Baka-Tsuki - User contributions [en]

Zero no Tsukaima:Volume9 Chapter7

2009-01-06T06:58:52Z

24.255.161.148:

===Chapter Seven: Solicitation===

Thirty mails in the sky of Tristania......a Dragon Knight was patrolling in the air.

Though it was not war time, there would always be one or two of the Dragon Knights who would be in the air, since air pirates and mysterious creatures could attack the capital anytime.

On this day, the one who was on air was Rene of the capital escort Dragon Knight Regiment First Battalion, the one who had previously fought together with Saito.

The dragon he lost in Albion was replaced by a new white Wind Dragon he obtained, and Rene was circling the sky of Tristania slowly. Seemingly cold, Rene buried his face in the neckband of the boar leather coat.

“The sky is freezing......Dammit! And the war had already ended! But when it comes to handling the men of the Dragon Knight corps, it's ever the same! As for that SAITO who was installed as the Assistant Commanding Officer of the Imperial Guards, it is completely different! Well...just because he stopped the seventy thousand, that promotion was still not the way to do things......or is it?”

As if responding to Rene's grumbles, that new partner dragon purred, ''Kyui''.

“Ryusto, it's not really your fault. Because it's the duty of the Dragon Knights to fly in the air.”

He stroked the dragon's head gently, at which the Wind Dragon narrowed its eyes happily.

However, at the following instant......the Wind Dragon opened its eyes widely. Not allowing even the smallest glint of light escape, those pupils opened like an animal from the cat family.

“What's wrong, Ryusto?”

''Waruuuuuuuuuuu...''

A low growl came out from the Wind Dragon's mouth.

He followed the field of vision of those eyes.

Different from the dragon which was excellent in night vision, Rene, a human being, could not really detect the “thing” over there.

“What? That is......”

Illuminated by the moonlight, between the opening of the clouds, there was something there.

There was a gigantic wing......The overall width could easily be more than 100 mails.

That thing was flying slowly in the air. Moreover......''Shunshunshunshun......''it made a sound which he had not heard before.

Rene gulped.

He was frightened by the silhouette which was like a gigantic demon spreading its wings.

“Don't tell me that's a reincarnation of the legendary demons......Oi, Ryusto! Go nearer!”

But the Wind Dragon did not obey his command. Far from it, it turned on it's heels and started to retreat.

“Oi Ryusto! What's wrong! I have to check out what that thing is!”

Despite Rene's desperate rebuke, ''Kyui'', with a purr, the Wind Dragon descended away from the object. Ryusto which was still young was evidently afraid of such a huge thing.

“How I miss Virkan who had died in Albion!! Without being afraid, without even a command, he would just rush forward!!”

Rene cried out regretfully.

The next afternoon......the location was changed- Tristain Academy of Magic.

“The Ball of Sleipnir?”

During lunch, both of them seated, Saito asked Malicorne who was in front of him. Lately, he was not at Louise's side, and at many times, he was with the company of the Ondine • Knight Corps of the Water Spirit, having his meals with them.

“Yeah. Now is the start of the new school term, right? Well, you might not know about it though.”

Although he said “new school term”, Saito still didn't get his point. Because he could not get used to the feeling of the months over here. Still, for some reason, it was quite lively lately. He vaguely felt the springtime-like atmosphere.

Come to think of it, there was a certain ceremony recently, and many noble teens attended. Unnoticingly, the figures of the third-years could not be seen anymore. It was a graduation, and the replacement with first-year students. Oh I see! That was the school entrance ceremony? Saito hit his knees.

“Why is there a ball for the new school term?”

Guiche, who was sitting beside him, explained.

“Well, isn't a welcome necessary? Amongst the newly enrolled noble lasses, there is quite a number who are entering the higher society for the first time. I will carefully teach those girls the adult's social life! Yeah, adult's social life! Oh, there are boys as well...”

Looks like the point is to welcome the new students. ''Fuuun'', as Saito nodded, he filled his mouth with grilled meat. With the sour taste of the fruit sauce, it was delicious.

At a careful look, everyone's way of using the table utensils were not that elegant. Hitting the plate with the fork, making a loud “''gacchagaccha''” noise, gulping down the soup with a “zuzuzu” noise, spilling it unconcernedly.

''Although Louise and the other girls eat quietly with polite table manners, Guiche and the other boys' way of eating was terrible.

As for “manners” which was really irritating, I could surely do it in this world recently, I suppose......'', Whist thinking that, Saito was eating politely.

“But, this is not an ordinary ball!”

Draining his wine cup quickly, Guiche stood up. Malicorne gulped it down forcefully as well. Anyway, these guys had been drinking heavily since noon. With good manners, Saito squeezed lemon juice into his carbonated drink and drank it. Speaking of nobles, these guys were of the inferior group. Saito made the weird resolution to be at least of the superior group.

“What do you mean by 'ordinary'?”

“Masquerade.”

Guiche said triumphantly.

“Masquerade? This isn't that special. There are many balls like this.”

At Saito's words, with a ''fuun'' sound, Malicorne laughed lightly at Saito, displaying a smile.

But at the next moment......the conversation behind his seat entered Saito's ears.

“Do you know? The words of a 'mysterious bird' which appeared at the sky of Tristania.”

“Yeah. My elder brother who serves at the Dragon Knight corps heard the rumor as well......is it true?”

The ones who were conversing were two lads of the same class. Saito strained his ears towards them. Not noticing Saito's actions, Malicorne continued his explanation.

“Get it? The masquerade ball of the Academy of Magic is not as simple as the usual “masquerade”. It is a masquerade which uses magic. The “Mirror of Truth” is used. The thing one admires the most......you can transform into something like that.”

After that, Guiche declared pridefully.

“The ideal self. Well, my ideal self is me!! Ah, because I am the most handsome one in the world! Ahaha! Ah! Everyone who change into my appearance! Ah! Ahaha! Ah!”

As he was yelling this, Guiche hugged himself tightly.

However, Saito was no longer hearing Malicorne and Guiche's chatters. He was thoroughly into the conversation behind his seat.

“......And, I heard that its width achieved 150 mails!”

“Isn't it a ship?”

“Is there a ship with such an appearance?”

“In that case, a dragon? An enormous one. The legendary huge dragon.”

“Nope, its wings were completely different from the ones of a dragon class. If I had to say, it had the form of a bird......the word was that it was a creature with spreading out wings.”

Unconsciously, Saito had left his seat to listen to those words.

“Can you tell me the details?”

Those guys told him the rumor that had transpired at the palace lately.

In his night flight in the air, a Dragon Knight sighted a huge “shadow”.

Its width was more than 100 mails.

It made a strange sound, and so on......

“So, what on earth was that?”

“I don't know. The dragon of that dragon knight was frightened......no, the one who was frightened might've been the dragon knight himself......escaping before approaching that object to check it out. Upon the receipt of that information, when another dragon knight ascended the air, it had already disappeared from the skies of Tristania like a mist.”

“What is that...?”

“Well......you can say that he had mistaken it for a cloud or something else...”

“Fuuunnn......”

Saito was somehow uneasy about that. He remembered “Myozunitonirun” they met before this.

Able to manipulate all magical items, same as him, the “familiar of Void”......

Assuming that it was neither a dragon nor a ship......is that something like a type of magical items?

Since details of that thing could not be seen, nothing could be said about it......at any rate, they could not be negligent. Those guys Saito and the rest met in Albion, who had animosity towards them, were not Fouquet or Wardes or Reconquista; their true motives could not be grasped. Was it a particular country, or was it some organization......even that could not be told. They were an eerie lot.

Henrietta would investigate it......but they did not acquire any new information, no words came to them at present.

Saito thought that over whilst returning to his seat.

Malicorne found fault with Saito, and said as if he was displeased.

“Oi, listen properly to our words! Leaving your seat in the middle of a conversation is really rude!”

“Hmm? Aah, sorry. Umm, what kind of masquerade?”

He remembered that they were in the conversation about a different type of masquerade ball.

“That's enough!”

“Sorry sorry. Don't be angry like that. Don't you guys worry about that? The mysterious, enormous shadow which had appeared at the skies of Tristania!”

“They had seen wrongly. A series of misrecognition during the night air patrol! Information like the naked princess flying in the sky. What is that? It's be better for us to set out to investigate it!”

Guiche spoke in a foolish tone.

As this chatter continued, a spectacled lad opened his mouth.

“Hey, you guys. The ball or the mysterious shadow, whatever it is. Think more about the affairs of the knight corps!”

Saito sat down beside Guiche, and stared at that lad. It was definitely the chap from the class beside Reynal's. During Albion's military campaign, he apparently directed the wagon corps. Not discouraged during the chaos of their retreat, he had put that corps in order. Because of that, he was commended.

“Do you know how we are called in the palace? “Student Knights Thingy”! My uncle who is serving in the palace heard a rumor, something like we had made her majesty disappointed and worried.”

All the members present there displayed affronted-looking faces.

“What? Although we might not have contributed so much valorous deeds, hadn't the Imperial Guard corps already been specially promoted? Compared to the great warriors of the past, it can't be helped that we are known as “Children's Play”. But we have no reason to accept it just like that. For this reason, we want you to think consider this seriously, Guiche, Saito!”

Guiche and Saito exchanged glances.

“Your thoughts might be correct, b-but, what should we do?”

“We want you to empower our battle arrays. Presently, isn't Saito the only Chevalier?”

“Although you say that, Chevalier isn't a title you can receive just like that......”

At Guiche's words, Reynal smiled sweetly.

“I know of another one.”

During lunch break, all the group members went to the library.

At the side of the library where most of the people won't go, there was a lass there.

The small body leaned over and was reading a book with her utmost attention.

The blue-haired lass was Tabitha.

“Huh? When did she come back?”

Guiche whispered. Indeed, she was supposed to stick close to Kirche and go to Germania with her.

“Looks like she came back two or three days ago.”

“She is not someone who stands out. Umm......”

Guiche spoke as if he was troubled.

“Yet, can she come into our company? Isn't she a girl?”

“But still, she is truly a 'Chevalier'. In such a case, we cannot have gender distinctions, I suppose. The condition to be enlisted in “Ondine” is “a student of the Academy of Magic”. Only that. It doesn't mean that there is a rule which forbids the participation of females.”

“The official documents does not set apart these things. It just happened like that unexpectedly. Which ever girl can also join......”

Guiche said.

“But I am not a student here...”

Saito said as well.

“Isn't it fine? If that's the case, we can also change it to “Beings that live in the Academy of Magic”. It's decided now. That's it. I decided it.”

Reynal declared arrogantly. Not matching his obedient and quiet-looking appearance, looks like he had a really forceful character. Evidently, he had the intention to persuade the Commanding Officer and the Assistant Commanding Officer to let him shoulder the practical business of the knight corps.

“Is it okay? After all both of you have no interest whatsoever in “administration” and “reputation”. For the continuation of the knight corps, above everything else, these two are indispensable. I am thinking that, if the knight corps follow my own way, we would not be called fools in the palace. If you have alternative plans, tell me.”

At those words, Saito and Guiche was speechless.

“Well then, I'll persuade her.”

Reynal stepped forward, but Saito stopped him.

“Wait!”

“What's the problem? Do you have any complaints!?”

“No. Just in case, Guiche and I will go. Hey, Guiche!”

“Huh? A-ah.”

Leading Guiche, Saito sat beside Tabitha who was reading a book.

“Yo, yo......”

Saito was fairly bad at dealing with this blue-haired girl. At any rate, when it comes to this lass, she neither chatters, nor responds, as if she has an air of pressure.

Although Saito sat down, Tabitha still did not have any response.

“You had gone to Germania together with Kirche huh. Oh yea, umm...together with Colbert-sensei's corpse......what happened after that?”

Tabitha did not reply.

“Is Kirche still there?”

At which Tabitha nodded. However, she seemingly did not have the plan to say anything at all.

“I see......When will she come back?”

“Don't know.”

Anyway, it was as if there were things she did not want to say. No, she probably just spoke little......After that, Saito had given up asking.

“Other than those things, I have a favor.”

Guiche cut into their conversation.

“By all means, won't you join our knight corps?”

“............”

Tabitha did not even try to lift her face from that book.

“Err......we had only been made into a knight corps......We want to borrow your power.”

Saito said, but as expected, Tabitha did not respond.

“You're a Chevalier right? By all means, won't you use that power for the sake of our Ondine?”

“I am a Gallian.”

Her answer had barely escaped her lips,

“Is there any problem with Gallians? If you like, a 'guest knight' status is fine as well.”

Reynal who had been standing there without them noticing, said that.

“We can negotiate the increase of annuity as well......”

Tabitha shook her head. The blue hair above her head shook as well. Saito remembered the dream he saw in Albion some time ago. During that time, he recalled the throbbing breasts of this cold face, a little embarrassed. At a closer look, Tabitha was really a beauty as well. Just that......the few layers of cold air covered Tabitha's facial expression, thus concealing her charm.

When he looked at that face......''There's nothing I can do?'', Saito somehow thought that.

With a serious face, Saito said to Tabitha.

“I have become a 'Chevalier' as well, just like you.”

“Chevalier?”

At that, Tabitha lifted her face for the first time.

“Yeah. Because of that, I want to be of use to people. I kept thinking like that. More than just a commoner, pertaining to the Chevalier-like title, maybe I can do something. Whether I would do well or not, I do not know such things. But now, I would do it with my life. You're strong, right? How do I put it? Umm......”

Seemingly ashamed, Saito said.

“Won't you try to use that strength for the sake of this society? Sort of.”

Upon which Tabitha closed her book and stood up.

“Oooh, you're coming along, right?”

Guiche let out a delighted voice.

But......

“I have no interest in pretending to be knights.”

Leaving that short sentence behind, Tabitha walked off.

“Grrrrrrrrr...What's that brat's problem! We had asked her so humbly, and she left with such a tone!!”

Guiche stamped his feet in frustration, apparently regretful.

“Well, it shouldn't be her ego. She should have some other things to do, I think...”

Saito tried to cheer up the angered Guiche.

Tabitha went back to her room, and discovered a raven on top of her bed. It was definitely a carrier crow, bringing a secret message from the Gallian royal family. It was always a delivery bird, although there were times when owls or doves were used.

Nevertheless, today's crow was not holding any secret message.

Tabitha inclined her head to one side, and ''bang!''. Emitting a sound, it cracked into half.

At a closer look......that was an elaborate model of a crow. It was probably a kind of 'gargoyle'. There was a hole in the crow model which cracked apart, and a letter was inserted into it.

She picked it up and browsed through it. Tabitha's eyebrows lowered slightly.

During that night......the one Tabitha visited on her wind dragon Sylphid was not Gallia, but Tristain.

Above the town which was glowing with lights, Tabitha jumped off from Sylphid. She recited a spell, and her body floated with Levitation, landing slowly.

That place was a street along which suspicious-looking bars and gambling dens lined- Chicton Street. Drunkards and ladies in revealing clothes who were walking along that street at night saw Tabitha who had landed from the sky, and was stunned for a moment......and realizing that it was a young child, they smiled bitterly. Although their opponent might have been a noble, she was still a kid. From the mouths of the drunkards who had become brave, sneers came out of them.

“What's wrong, miss? Isn't this a place where children shouldn't come?”

“Oh my! You have lost your way? If I lead you to your dear father, would you give me a reward?”

As if those were just a breeze which flew past her face, Tabitha ignored those sneers, and head towards that specified bar.

Although that place was at Chicton Street as well, it was a more refined bar. There were many people in noble and knight outfits. The shop owner sitting behind the counter stared at Tabitha suspiciously.

“This is not a shop for a noble's daughter to visit. Our premises should be quite chaotic right now. It is better for you to return home.”

In spite of that, Tabitha did not move.

Shaking his head, the owner drew near to Tabitha's face.

“Hey, miss. Although I dunno what sort of magic you use, those people who conspire bad things come along as well. While you are not involved in anything troublesome yet.......”

At the moment when the shop owner was threatening Tabitha, a lady deeply buried in a hood sat down beside Tabitha.

“Sorry for being late. Your friend, huh?”

The latter half of her words were directed towards the shop owner. From the ambiance of that lady, the shop owner who sensed that it would be better for him not to poke his head into their affairs, withdrew to the inside of the bar.

The lady in the thick robe looked at Tabitha.

“How do you do? Knight of the North Flowerbed, Tabitha-dono.”

After Tabitha lightly nodded, she spoke.

“Why?”

''Why is she to receive her task in Tristain and not Gallia?'' That was her question.

“This country would be the setting of the task this time.”

“............”

That lady removed the hood she was wearing. Slit, almond eyes. Between the rustling black hair, runes were written messily. The mind of god, Myozunitonirun.

“Our master's thoughts were this. Although he wanted to let the four dragons of this world fight
amongst each other......but for some reason I don't know, he decided to capture one of them.”

“............”

“That dragon has a strong guard. That's why he wants you to exterminate that guard. During that time, I would steal that dragon.”

“Exterminate the guard?”

“Someone you know very well.”

Myozunitonirun showed Tabitha a slip of paper.

Seeing the name and portrait on it, Tabitha's eyes opened widely.

“If you manage to accomplish this task......there is a big reward. Your mother......had drank poison and become mentally ill, right? It's the medicine to regain her sanity.”

Tabitha bit her lips lightly, and quivered. After that, she shifted her view towards Myozunitonirun. Those eyes contained obvious animosity.

“Eh? The great Knight-sama of the North Flowerbed, had personal feelings towards her acquaintances? Don't you get it? This is a chance for your mother to regain her sanity.”

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| Back to [[Zero_no_Tsukaima:Volume9_Chapter6|Chapter 6]]
| Return to [[Zero_no_Tsukaima|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Zero_no_Tsukaima:Volume9_Chapter8|Chapter 8]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Zero no Tsukaima:Volume9 Chapter7

2009-01-06T06:49:25Z

24.255.161.148:

===Chapter Seven: Solicitation===

Thirty mails in the sky of Tristania......a Dragon Knight was patrolling in the air.

Though it was not war time, there would always be one or two of the Dragon Knights who would be in the air, since air pirates and mysterious creatures could attack the capital anytime.

On this day, the one who was on air was Rene of the capital escort Dragon Knight Regiment First Battalion, the one who had previously fought together with Saito.

The dragon he lost in Albion was replaced by a new white Wind Dragon he obtained, and Rene was circling the sky of Tristania slowly. Seemingly cold, Rene buried his face in the neckband of the boar leather coat.

“The sky is freezing......Dammit! And the war had already ended! But when it comes to handling the men of the Dragon Knight corps, it's ever the same! As for that SAITO who was installed as the Assistant Commanding Officer of the Imperial Guards, it is completely different! Well...just because he stopped the seventy thousand, that promotion was still not the way to do things......or is it?”

As if responding to Rene's grumbles, that new partner dragon purred, ''Kyui''.

“Ryusto, it's not really your fault. Because it's the duty of the Dragon Knights to fly in the air.”

He stroked the dragon's head gently, at which the Wind Dragon narrowed its eyes happily.

However, at the following instant......the Wind Dragon opened its eyes widely. Not allowing even the smallest glint of light escape, those pupils opened like an animal from the cat family.

“What's wrong, Ryusto?”

''Waruuuuuuuuuuu...''

A low growl came out from the Wind Dragon's mouth.

He followed the field of vision of those eyes.

Different from the dragon which was excellent in night vision, Rene, a human being, could not really detect the “thing” over there.

“What? That is......”

Illuminated by the moonlight, between the opening of the clouds, there was something there.

There was a gigantic wing......The overall width could easily be more than 100 mails.

That thing was flying slowly in the air. Moreover......''Shunshunshunshun......''it made a sound which he had not heard before.

Rene gulped.

He was frightened by the silhouette which was like a gigantic demon spreading its wings.

“Don't tell me that's a reincarnation of the legendary demons......Oi, Ryusto! Go nearer!”

But the Wind Dragon did not obey his command. Far from it, it turned on it's heels and started to retreat.

“Oi Ryusto! What's wrong! I have to check out what that thing is!”

Despite Rene's desperate rebuke, ''Kyui'', with a purr, the Wind Dragon descended away from the object. Ryusto which was still young was evidently afraid of such a huge thing.

“How I miss Virkan who had died in Albion!! Without being afraid, without even a command, he would just rush forward!!”

Rene cried out regretfully.

The next afternoon......the location was changed- Tristain Academy of Magic.

“The Ball of Sleipnir?”

During lunch, both of them seated, Saito asked Malicorne who was in front of him. Lately, he was not at Louise's side, and at many times, he was with the company of the Ondine • Knight Corps of the Water Spirit, having his meals with them.

“Yeah. Now is the start of the new school term, right? Well, you might not know about it though.”

Although he said “new school term”, Saito still didn't get his point. Because he could not get used to the feeling of the months over here. Still, for some reason, it was quite lively lately. He vaguely felt the springtime-like atmosphere.

Come to think of it, there was a certain ceremony recently, and many noble teens attended. Unnoticingly, the figures of the third-years could not be seen anymore. It was a graduation, and the replacement with first-year students. Oh I see! That was the school entrance ceremony? Saito hit his knees.

“Why is there a ball for the new school term?”

Guiche, who was sitting beside him, explained.

“Well, isn't a welcome necessary? Amongst the newly enrolled noble lasses, there is quite a number who are entering the higher society for the first time. I will carefully teach those girls the adult's social life! Yeah, adult's social life! Oh, there are boys as well...”

Looks like the point is to welcome the new students. ''Fuuun'', as Saito nodded, he filled his mouth with grilled meat. With the sour taste of the fruit sauce, it was delicious.

At a careful look, everyone's way of using the table utensils were not that elegant. Hitting the plate with the fork, making a loud “''gacchagaccha''” noise, gulping down the soup with a “zuzuzu” noise, spilling it unconcernedly.

''Although Louise and the other girls eat quietly with polite table manners, Guiche and the other boys' way of eating was terrible.

As for “manners” which was really irritating, I could surely do it in this world recently, I suppose......'', Whist thinking that, Saito was eating politely.

“But, this is not an ordinary ball!”

Draining his wine cup quickly, Guiche stood up. Malicorne gulped it down forcefully as well. Anyway, these guys had been drinking heavily since noon. With good manners, Saito squeezed lemon juice into his carbonated drink and drank it. Speaking of nobles, these guys were of the inferior group. Saito made the weird resolution to be at least of the superior group.

“What do you mean by 'ordinary'?”

“Masquerade.”

Guiche said triumphantly.

“Masquerade? This isn't that special. There are many balls like this.”

At Saito's words, with a ''fuun'' sound, Malicorne laughed lightly at Saito, displaying a smile.

But at the next moment......the conversation behind his seat entered Saito's ears.

“Do you know? The words of a 'mysterious bird' which appeared at the sky of Tristania.”

“Yeah. My elder brother who serves at the Dragon Knight corps heard the rumor as well......is it true?”

The ones who were conversing were two lads of the same class. Saito strained his ears towards them. Not noticing Saito's actions, Malicorne continued his explanation.

“Get it? The masquerade ball of the Academy of Magic is not as simple as the usual “masquerade”. It is a masquerade which uses magic. The “Mirror of Truth” is used. The thing one admires the most......you can transform into something like that.”

After that, Guiche declared pridefully.

“The ideal self. Well, my ideal self is me!! Ah, because I am the most handsome one in the world! Ahaha! Ah! Everyone who change into my appearance! Ah! Ahaha! Ah!”

As he was yelling this, Guiche hugged himself tightly.

However, Saito was no longer hearing Malicorne and Guiche's chatters. He was thoroughly into the conversation behind his seat.

“......And, I heard that its width achieved 150 mails!”

“Isn't it a ship?”

“Is there a ship with such an appearance?”

“In that case, a dragon? An enormous one. The legendary huge dragon.”

“Nope, its wings were completely different from the ones of a dragon class. If I had to say, it had the form of a bird......the word was that it was a creature with spreading out wings.”

Unconsciously, Saito had left his seat to listen to those words.

“Can you tell me the details?”

Those guys told him the rumor that had transpired at the palace lately.

In his night flight in the air, a Dragon Knight sighted a huge “shadow”.

Its width was more than 100 mails.

It made a strange sound, and so on......

“So, what on earth was that?”

“I don't know. The dragon of that dragon knight was frightened......no, the one who was frightened might've been the dragon knight himself......escaping before approaching that object to check it out. Upon the receipt of that information, when another dragon knight ascended the air, it had already disappeared from the skies of Tristania like a mist.”

“What is that...?”

“Well......you can say that he had mistaken it for a cloud or something else...”

“Fuuunnn......”

Saito was somehow uneasy about that. He remembered “Myozunitonirun” they met before this.

Able to manipulate all magical items, same as him, the “familiar of Void”......

Assuming that it was neither a dragon nor a ship......is that something like a type of magical items?

Since details of that thing could not be seen, nothing could be said about it......at any rate, they could not be negligent. Those guys Saito and the rest met in Albion, who had animosity towards them, were not Fouquet or Wardes or Reconquista; their true motives could not be grasped. Was it a particular country, or was it some organization......even that could not be told. They were an eerie lot.

Henrietta would investigate it......but they did not acquire any new information, no words came to them at present.

Saito thought that over whilst returning to his seat.

Malicorne found fault with Saito, and said as if he was displeased.

“Oi, listen properly to our words! Leaving your seat in the middle of a conversation is really rude!”

“Hmm? Aah, sorry. Umm, what kind of masquerade?”

He remembered that they were in the conversation about a different type of masquerade ball.

“That's enough!”

“Sorry sorry. Don't be angry like that. Don't you guys worry about that? The mysterious, enormous shadow which had appeared at the skies of Tristania!”

“They had seen wrongly. A series of misrecognition during the night air patrol! Information like the naked princess flying in the sky. What is that? It's be better for us to set out to investigate it!”

Guiche spoke in a foolish tone.

As this chatter continued, a spectacled lad opened his mouth.

“Hey, you guys. The ball or the mysterious shadow, whatever it is. Think more about the affairs of the knight corps!”

Saito sat down beside Guiche, and stared at that lad. It was definitely the chap from the class beside Reynal's. During Albion's military campaign, he apparently directed the wagon corps. Not discouraged during the chaos of their retreat, he had put that corps in order. Because of that, he was commended.

“Do you know how we are called in the palace? “Student Knights Thingy”! My uncle who is serving in the palace heard a rumor, something like we had made her majesty disappointed and worried.”

All the members present there displayed affronted-looking faces.

“What? Although we might not have contributed so much valorous deeds, hadn't the Imperial Guard corps already been specially promoted? Compared to the great warriors of the past, it can't be helped that we are known as “Children's Play”. But we have no reason to accept it just like that. For this reason, we want you to think consider this seriously, Guiche, Saito!”

Guiche and Saito exchanged glances.

“Your thoughts might be correct, b-but, what should we do?”

“We want you to empower our battle arrays. Presently, isn't Saito the only Chevalier?”

“Although you say that, Chevalier isn't a title you can receive just like that......”

At Guiche's words, Reynal smiled sweetly.

“I know of another one.”

During lunch break, all the group members went to the library.

At the side of the library where most of the people won't go, there was a lass there.

The small body leaned over and was reading a book with her utmost attention.

The blue-haired lass was Tabitha.

“Huh? When did she come back?”

Guiche whispered. Indeed, she was supposed to stick close to Kirche and go to Germania with her.

“Looks like she came back two or three days ago.”

“She is not someone who stands out. Umm......”

Guiche spoke as if he was troubled.

“Yet, can she come into our company? Isn't she a girl?”

“But still, she is truly a 'Chevalier'. In such a case, we cannot have gender distinctions, I suppose. The condition to be enlisted in “Ondine” is “a student of the Academy of Magic”. Only that. It doesn't mean that there is a rule which forbids the participation of females.”

“The official documents does not set apart these things. It just happened like that unexpectedly. Which ever girl can also join......”

Guiche said.

“But I am not a student here...”

Saito said as well.

“Isn't it fine? If that's the case, we can also change ot to “Beings that live in the Academy of Magic”. It's decided now. That's it. I decide it.”

Reynal declared arrogantly. Not matching his obedient and quiet-looking appearance, looks like he had a really forceful character. Evidently, he had the intention to persuade the Commanding Officer and the Assistant Commanding Officer to let him shoulder the practical business of the knight corps.

“Is it okay? After all both of you have no interest whatsoever in “administration” and “reputation”. For the continuation of the knight corps, above everything else, these two are indispensable. I am thinking that, if the knight corps follow my own way, we would not be called fools in the palace. If you have alternative plans, tell me.”

At those words, Saito and Guiche was speechless.

“Well then, I'll persuade her.”

Reynal stepped forward, but Saito stopped him.

“Wait!”

“What's the problem? Do you have any complaints!?”

“No. Just in case, Guiche and I will go. Hey, Guiche!”

“Huh? A-ah.”

Leading Guiche, Saito sat beside Tabitha who was reading a book.

“Yo, yo......”

Saito was fairly bad at dealing with this blue-haired girl. At any rate, when it comes to this lass, she neither chatters, nor responds, as if she has an air of pressure.

Although Saito sat down, Tabitha still did not have any response.

“You had gone to Germania together with Kirche huh. Oh yea, umm...together with Colbert-sensei's corpse......what happened after that?”

Tabitha did not reply.

“Is Kirche still there?”

At which Tabitha nodded. However, she seemingly did not have the plan to say anything at all.

“I see......When will she come back?”

“Don't know.”

Anyway, it was as if there were things she did not want to say. No, she probably just spoke little......After that, Saito had given up asking.

“Other than those things, I have a favor.”

Guiche cut into their conversation.

“By all means, won't you join our knight corps?”

“............”

Tabitha did not even try to lift her face from that book.

“Err......we had only been made into a knight corps......We want to borrow your power.”

Saito said, but as expected, Tabitha did not respond.

“You're a Chevalier right? By all means, won't you use that power for the sake of our Ondine?”

“I am a Gallian.”

Her answer had barely escaped her lips,

“Is there any problem with Gallians? If you like, a 'guest knight' status is fine as well.”

Reynal who had been standing there without them noticing, said that.

“We can negotiate the increase of annuity as well......”

Tabitha shook her head. The blue hair above her head shook as well. Saito remembered the dream he saw in Albion some time ago. During that time, he recalled the throbbing breasts of this cold face, a little embarrassed. At a closer look, Tabitha was really a beauty as well. Just that......the few layers of cold air covered Tabitha's facial expression, thus concealing her charm.

When he looked at that face......''There's nothing I can do?'', Saito somehow thought that.

With a serious face, Saito said to Tabitha.

“I have become a 'Chevalier' as well, just like you.”

“Chevalier?”

At that, Tabitha lifted her face for the first time.

“Yeah. Because of that, I want to be of use to people. I kept thinking like that. More than just a commoner, pertaining to the Chevalier-like title, maybe I can do something. Whether I would do well or not, I do not know such things. But now, I would do it with my life. You're strong, right? How do I put it? Umm......”

Seemingly ashamed, Saito said.

“Won't you try to use that strength for the sake of this society? Sort of.”

Upon which Tabitha closed her book and stood up.

“Oooh, you're coming along, right?”

Guiche let out a delighted voice.

But......

“I have no interest in pretending to be knights.”

Leaving that short sentence behind, Tabitha walked off.

“Grrrrrrrrr...What's that brat's problem! We had asked her so humbly, and she left with such a tone!!”

Guiche stamped his feet in frustration, apparently regretful.

“Well, it shouldn't be her ego. She should have some other things to do, I think...”

Saito tried to cheer up the angered Guiche.

Tabitha went back to her room, and discovered a raven on top of her bed. It was definitely a carrier crow, bringing a secret message from the Gallian royal family. It was always a delivery bird, although there were times when owls or doves were used.

Nevertheless, today's crow was not holding any secret message.

Tabitha inclined her head to one side, and ''bang!''. Emitting a sound, it cracked into half.

At a closer look......that was an elaborate model of a crow. It was probably a kind of 'gargoyle'. There was a hole in the crow model which cracked apart, and a letter was inserted into it.

She picked it up and browsed through it. Tabitha's eyebrows lowered slightly.

During that night......the one Tabitha visited on her wind dragon Sylphid was not Gallia, but Tristain.

Above the town which was glowing with lights, Tabitha jumped off from Sylphid. She recited a spell, and her body floated with Levitation, landing slowly.

That place was a street along which suspicious-looking bars and gambling dens lined- Chicton Street. Drunkards and ladies in revealing clothes who were walking along that street at night saw Tabitha who had landed from the sky, and was stunned for a moment......and realizing that it was a young child, they smiled bitterly. Although their opponent might have been a noble, she was still a kid. From the mouths of the drunkards who had become brave, sneers came out of them.

“What's wrong, miss? Isn't this a place where children shouldn't come?”

“Oh my! You have lost your way? If I lead you to your dear father, would you give me a reward?”

As if those were just a breeze which flew past her face, Tabitha ignored those sneers, and head towards that specified bar.

Although that place was at Chicton Street as well, it was a more refined bar. There were many people in noble and knight outfits. The shop owner sitting behind the counter stared at Tabitha suspiciously.

“This is not a shop for a noble's daughter to visit. Our premises should be quite chaotic right now. It is better for you to return home.”

In spite of that, Tabitha did not move.

Shaking his head, the owner drew near to Tabitha's face.

“Hey, miss. Although I dunno what sort of magic you use, those people who conspire bad things come along as well. While you are not involved in anything troublesome yet.......”

At the moment when the shop owner was threatening Tabitha, a lady deeply buried in a hood sat down beside Tabitha.

“Sorry for being late. Your friend, huh?”

The latter half of her words were directed towards the shop owner. From the ambiance of that lady, the shop owner who sensed that it would be better for him not to poke his head into their affairs, withdrew to the inside of the bar.

The lady in the thick robe looked at Tabitha.

“How do you do? Knight of the North Flowerbed, Tabitha-dono.”

After Tabitha lightly nodded, she spoke.

“Why?”

''Why is she to receive her task in Tristain and not Gallia?'' That was her question.

“This country would be the setting of the task this time.”

“............”

That lady removed the hood she was wearing. Slit, almond eyes. Between the rustling black hair, runes were written messily. The mind of god, Myozunitonirun.

“Our master's thoughts were this. Although he wanted to let the four dragons of this world fight
amongst each other......but for some reason I don't know, he decided to capture one of them.”

“............”

“That dragon has a strong guard. That's why he wants you to exterminate that guard. During that time, I would steal that dragon.”

“Exterminate the guard?”

“Someone you know very well.”

Myozunitonirun showed Tabitha a slip of paper.

Seeing the name and portrait on it, Tabitha's eyes opened widely.

“If you manage to accomplish this task......there is a big reward. Your mother......had drank poison and become mentally ill, right? It's the medicine to regain her sanity.”

Tabitha bit her lips lightly, and quivered. After that, she shifted her view towards Myozunitonirun. Those eyes contained obvious animosity.

“Eh? The great Knight-sama of the North Flowerbed, had personal feelings towards her acquaintances? Don't you get it? This is a chance for your mother to regain her sanity.”

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| Back to [[Zero_no_Tsukaima:Volume9_Chapter6|Chapter 6]]
| Return to [[Zero_no_Tsukaima|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Zero_no_Tsukaima:Volume9_Chapter8|Chapter 8]]
|-
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</noinclude>

Zero no Tsukaima:Volume8 Chapter3 - MTL

2008-10-20T03:24:03Z

24.255.161.148:

First thought that crossed Saito’s mind after seeing the girl was…　

Golden light.

During the dream before, he had seen the golden light at the end.

That light became reality, blinding Saito’s eyes.

He hastily squinted. Once you get used, it doesn't actually shine. However, that girl's impression is too strong to be felt as a false light.

The girl who showed up was beautiful. No, word beautiful was too trite, she had a divine pretty face. When she moves, one wants to kneel down and worship her.

For the time being “Hada, wada, howada” Saito had to trouble to find any words as they were stuck in his throat.

“What's wrong?”

The girl asked in blank confusion.

“No, that, nothing, this.”

The girl look hesitant for a moment, then, as if having her mind set, took a deep breath and approached Saito. She wore a green, crude, short, one-piece dress, but rather than damaging her beauty, it suited her nicely. Slender lovely legs ran down her short skirt, with white sandals framing her pretty feet.

That simple attire eased up her beauty and created a friendly atmosphere.

Once coming to Saito, the girl laughed forcibly. She tried hard to make him relieved and smiled. Yet it wasn’t a beauty radiating smile, but kindheartedness.

“Thank goodness. Because you slept for two weeks…I was worried that you might not awake.”

“Did I sleep for so long…”

Though he was surprised that he slept for two weeks, but the girl’s beauty was even more shocking.

Haa, it looked as if she was covered with light, because of her long hair falling left, right and through the middle. Her blond hair like a waving golden sea reflected sunshine rays falling from the window, puzzling and dancing on her face.

It was like CG showing the face with a perfect outline and a perfect silhouette, beautiful, but making one nervous at the same time. Such a beautiful person without any thinkable flaws.

And… through the crevice of her golden hair, unnoticed, pointed ears peeped.

Such ear shape is quite unusual, he though while trying to move, and incomparable acute pain ran through his side. Until now he have not felt such strong pain.

That pain made him feel "alive". I am not dead, I feel life, thought Saito while trembling.

The way wilted flowers suck in water, relief filled Saito. It was a torrent of relief. He was safe for now and was swept by turmoil of emotions.

“I see… I am alive…”

Gradually he was moved to tears. I am alive, with such thought, even the aching wounds on his body felt dear.

“Ah, if it hurts it means I am alive.”

Teary-eyed Saito muttered.

Seeing that…

“W-well… are the bandages too tight?”

Blinking her clear, big, green eyes, the girl reached for Saito.

After confirming being alive, the girls' beauty in his presence, also became more real and made Saito’s heart tremble.

Aaah, touch of such beautiful person felt like a hit from a drumstick.

At once, feeling like a simpleton, Saito retreated.

Then the girl opened her eyes wide.

Then she noticed that an ear was peeping from the crevice of her hair is noticed and hurriedly covered it with both hands. In an instant her cheeks were dyed to pink.

“S-sorry.”

“Eh?”

“But don’t worry. I won’t do any harm.”

Saito looked blankly. It seems that Saito’s retreat was mistaken for fright. An unexpected misunderstanding. Saito lost his nerve only because of her beauty, not because of fright.

“No no! That, I am not afraid. But because of your b-b-bb…”

“Bb?”

“Beauty, well…”

Saying that Saito colored up. He was simply not accustomed saying 'You are beautiful' to a girl.

She made a surprised face.

“Beauty?”

“Y-yes.”

“You think so even after you saw my ear?”

She said removing hands from her ear.

“Yes.”

Suspicious, Saito nodded. Certainly, pointed ears were unusual. However, in Halkeginia with orcs, dragons, water spirits, there lived many strange beings. At this point, pointed ears did not surprise him much. Well, I guess there are people would not think so.

“…really, you are not shocked? Not scared?”

The girl watched Saito with a doubtful face.

“Really, I am not shocked and not scared. Why would I be afraid? Why do you ask? Besides, there are a lot more scary ones. Like dragons and trolls.”

The girl was relieved.

“It’s unusual for a human to not be afraid of an elf.”

“Elf?”

He has heard the name. He sought in the bottom of the memory and recalled it. Well certainly, mentioned in some talks. This was a name of who lives in the ‘east‘. According to the rumors they are vicious, and lives on a bad terms with humans in a holy land.

He did think them to be terrible, but the girl in front of him was far from that.

“Yes, elf. And I am ‘mixed’ one at that…”

Muttered the girl with a touch of self-hatred. Thereupon, a shadow covered her porcelain features.

A melancholy took over her face.

Confused for a moment… Saito had second thoughts.

Hey Saito, it's not time to appreciate the pretty girl.

Isn't there anything else for you to worry about?

How did I survive?

What happened to the war?

Louise?

Siesta?

Everyone?

However, there was something else to do before that. He’ll ask later.

“Did you help me?”

Saito said pointing at the bandages around his body.

“Yes" The girl nodded.

“I see…Thank you. Honestly, thank you.”

Saito thanked her many times. Even so, it was insufficient to express his gratitude.

The girl smiled shyly.

Somehow; she seemed to be embarrassed and dodged Saito’s words. Despite being an owner of a beautiful face, she seemed to loose her composure easily.

Though this girls behavior was naturally cute, Saito endured. Now it wasn’t the time to get love-struck. There were a lot of things that he wanted to hear first.

But... something was amiss.

Wasn’t it a little strange?

She helped me?

Heyhey, wasn’t I leaping against an army of 70,000?

From the looks, the girl wore village clothes. So how was she able to help him in a middle of the large army?

Gradually, suspicion built in Saito’s mind.

Then, her beauty, and the atmosphere surrounding her…

What if this elf woman was an enemy?

She tries to make me feel relieved to draw out some information…

When you think about it, this beautiful girl in front of me could really be an enemy’s trap. In movies and anime, the spies were usually beautiful women.

Moreover, after coming to this world and meeting Louise, Saito realized one the truth.

‘What looks cute may not be so from the inside.’

Such was the truth. And from the evidences that his body obtained – it was unshakable truth.

With such truth, his doubt in girl rose more.

“Fufufu…”

“What's wrong?”

Saito, cleared his throat, and asked in an calm voice.

“I really want to express my gratitude for helping me, however, there’s one thing I want to know.”

“Please.”

“Where I was helped?”

“Because you were lying in the forest, we brought you here.”

Lying in the forest?

Didn’t I fall, surrounded by a large army?

What forest?

Saito narrowed his eyes and watched the girl suspiciously.

Due to this, the atmosphere started to feel awkward…

“W-well, I’ll bring you food.”

Saying that, the girl tried to leave. Saito gripped her arm.

“Where have you put my sword?”

“Aah, that sword is yours? That, that sword, I did not know but he was making noise. I thought that it was better to not wake you up, so I placed him in the room on the other side….

Saito puckered up his eyebrows. He recalled words from an old detective drama. The beauty of rose has thorns. And in a final beautiful woman was a criminal. Damn, and said aloud.

“There must be a reason for Derf to be so loud.”

“Even if you say that, there must be a reason…”

She said in an embarrassed voice. Then, seeing Saito clasping her hand, the girl shamefully bit her lip.

“W-well… please, that, hand…”

The girl struggled to shake off Saito's hand. However, Saito doesn't let go. Frowning in pain, he drew slender girl’s arm to himself. The blush on girl's cheeks increased even more.

“Umm…let go…please.”

“Tell me the truth.”

But Saito was completely lost in the role of the great detective hunting down a criminal. A very bothering character. Even an encounter with death could not fix such a painful personality.

“You are from the Albion army. Say it, A-L-B-I-O-N.”

“N-no. I am not related to Albion nor to an army.”

With frightened face, girl shook her head. However, Saito’s detective feelings sense was completely convinced that she was part of the Albion army.

“Then how I was “lying in the forest”? I lost my consciousness in the middle of an enemy army! So there!”

“I-I do not know how…”

“Spit it out!”

“Ah..”

Saito pulled the girl making her loose the balance. Then she fell dawn on Saito’s thigh.

“Spit it out! S-eh?”

In an instant, Saito's face became pale.

Something big and soft crashed against his thigh.

Detective doubts about the girl where blown off from his head in an instant, and now other doubt swelled up in his mind.

Hey, Saito asked.

What object crashed against my thigh just now?

…Breasts?

It should be breasts.

However… it cannot be breasts. Surely, there cannot be such breast size. So, it isn’t.

Yet what would be normal breasts like? Saito imagined cooking. Big, soft bread. Stuffed animal. And yes - rounded square cushion.

Then what.

Still, even if it would be breasts. There are physical laws that breasts cannot disregard.

By an accident he caught her profile with his eyes. She was crimson. From shame and tension she seemed to not to be able to talk any more. Because Saito’s grip on her arm she could not stand up is not possible to stand up. Still, bravely, the girl struggled trying to stand up.

[[Image:ZnT08-077.jpg|thumb]]

Something hard stuck in Saito’s throat.

T-this especially. I, aah, I…

These soft, heavy objects on his thigh changed shape while moving.

Saito, with his mouth agape, watched the girl. Felt like hearts valve was breaking, almost making blood spout from the nose. His pulse was beating like drums, enthusiasm of life was coming back to Saito.

While watching the pointed ear which peeped from the crevice of her thin golden hair…three letters sparked in Saito’s head

T B R

Or saying in words…

The bust revolution.

Indeed… this was a revolutionary breasts size.

When compared it to the body lines, the size looks even bigger. This elf girl’s body was slender. He could see that when her body fell. Ankles are thin. Arms are also thin. Waist, neck – all are thin… However, only the breasts gone out of the ordinary groove. The breasts caused the revolt within this body.

If there was a law concerning the breasts size, then this would earn life imprisonment. No, death penalty. At least if Louise were a judge, it would be death penalty.

Aaah, because she wore wear voluminous clothes he had not realized. Aaah, because of her delicate arms, unconsciously mind applied that to the whole body. Aah aaah, for me, such breast size was all honesty.

“Ah, ya…ha, n.”

The girl let out sounds while struggling. This rascal, though her whole body is slender, why are the breasts so strange? It couldn’t be that breasts gathered all the nourishment, could it? I learned one day in science class from Mendelian teacher... this miracle could be explained by the laws of dominant inheritance...

His brains boiled, while thinking.

“Big sister is telling the truth!”

“Don’t do anything to Tiffa nee-chan!”

“Stop doing weird things to big sister!”

Children suddenly rushed into the Saito’s room. Seems like the children were watching them from the open door.

“Remove your hands from Tiffania onee-chan!”

Tiffania – seems to be the name of this beautiful elf girl. Children started hitting Saito, who was grasping her arm.

“Eh! No! This! Different! Children, it’s different!”

Though Saito tried to make excuses… children power was too strong. Though these kids a little while ago were frightened of the weird stranger.

With potential of huge breasts that cannot be expressed in a single phrase, this delicate elf girl, seemed to be the children's treasure.

“You are misunderstanding! This person’s breasts are too strange! Therefore I was surprised! It’s different! I was just surprised, that’s why I attacked!”

“Not different! It looked strange no mater what!”

It was justifiable.

“Ruffian! Be gone!”

“Wait! I’m not bad! That! Gyaa!”

“Eat this!” the girl with short blond hair hit his head severely with the frying-pan. Come to think of it, I was hit with the frying-pan in the dream as well, came trivial thought, before Saito started a journey to the unconscious world again.

<center>* * *</center>

While rubbing his aching head, Saito woke up again.

Tiffania opened the door and entered. Even after seeing again, she was beautiful. The color of her hair was bright and sparkling with gold and white, tres bien indeed, he thought.

She was embarrassed.

“Just a while ago, s-sorry for the children… because they believed… that you were doing strange things.”

Tiffania was carrying the heavy Derflinger in her arms. Unsho, yokkorasho – panting, she put strained expression that didn’t suit her face and leaned it against the bed.

“Derf!”

“Yoo, partner… Are you finally awake? I'm so glad, I'm so glad.”

Derflinger explained the things after Saito had fainted.

How he fell immediately before attacking general.

And how Derflinger using ‘absorbed amount of magic to move Gendalfr’ ability ran away to the forest.

“But, I was at a loss. And sad because you died. Your heart stopped too. I was fed up with making friends and then loosing them, what kind of legendary Derf I am.”

“Well, I survived…”

Saito, took a long look at himself again.

“Partner."

“Hold your tongue! Why haven’t you told me that you have such an ability?”

“I have forgotten… I am rather forgetful. But partner’s death made me sad. Partner is partner after all. No, not a legendary anymore, but partner is partner…”

He said in an inarticulate way, but Saito was not listening to Derflinger’s whining already.

Ignoring his aching body, he bowed to Tiffania.

“I'm really sorry! I…Though you helped me, I suspected you to take part in an enemy trap...”

“Eh? It’s all right. That, umm, don’t worry.”

Tiffania muttered, looking embarrassed.

“But, to heal such injury…”

Once again, the inborn curiosity raised it’s head. Saito asked anxiously.

“If you can, could you tell me? What magic you used to heal me when I was in an almost dead state?”

Tiffania, hesitating whether to say or not… showed a ring.

It was an old ring, only a dull silver plinth.

In that silver base for the fourth finger ring - there must have been a stone before.

“I was cured by this ring?”

Tiffania nodded with a stern face.

“Incredible ring! To cure such severe injury! If you have it, people won‘t die from injuries or diseases!“

Tiffania shook her head.

“That’s impossible.”

“What?” Saito was bewildered. Derflinger explained.

“Primordial magic. Elf treasure, isn’t it? The girl is half-elf.”

Tiffania was surprised.

“How do I know it? Anyhow, I lived very long, even though the memory is bad.”

“So… I'll tell you. As sword-san said the ‘primordial magic‘ with water power was placed into this ring. However, I do not know the name of it... it was given as keepsake from my dying mother.“

“Your mother was an elf?”

Tiffania nodded.

“This is rather complicated. I cannot tell you in full-detail… but, the magical power of the plinth was already used up.”

“Exactly. Since the water magic stone was placed in there, the magic was absorbed by the plinth itself. Therefore, there is only a plinth left. However, it cannot rise from the dead. It cannot heal the wounds of the dead ones.”

Saito was touched to the bottom of his heart. Though he didn’t understood well, somehow an important keepsake from her mother was used and he was cured.

Tiffania-san…right?”

“Tiffania it is. Though, if it is too hard to call me that, you can call me Tifa.”

Tiffania said, giving a smile that was embodiment of beauty. Hard to call, indeed.

“Tifa then. Really really, that…Let me express my greatest gratitude…Though it was such an important ring, to cure me…”

“Eh? It’s all right, it’s all right! Tools are there to be used after all!”

Tiffania said in panic.

“Indeed…”

Saito looked up.

“I would like to thank you, but I do not have anything to give but the little "power" I have!“

“Partner.”

In an embarrassed tone, Derflinger muttered. Disregarding him Saito continued.

“I cannot tell the details, but I can any weapon! Therefore, please tell when you are in trouble! For instance if a fierce animal or monster attacks the village at night…”

Saito, on the bed, clasped Tiffania's hand.

“F-for now…”

Tiffania mutters, giving a wry smile.

“You’ll see! Weapon! Grab! And runes on the left hand start to shine! Here!”

“Saito reached for Derflinger, who had been leaning against the bed and gripped him.

“Ah, partner…

For some reason Derflinger’s voice sounded embarrassed.

“Hey! When I grip the sword this way, the rune of the left hand…T-that?”

Saito stared blankly. Though Derflinger was gripped, nothing shone. Usually, the runes of the left hand shined and his body felt light, as if growing a pair of wings… yet, it didn’t lighten.

“W-what’s wrong?”

In panic, Saito watched his left hand, with his mouth widely agape.

“Rururu…”

“See, partner? I told you so. Not legendary anymore, but partner is a partner. But we are still same old, right? Friends, right? Therefore do not worry. Because I am still your partner. Thu-…”

Derflinger’s words were interrupted,

“What’s with the runes?!”

Saito screamed.

And so…

The sign of Gandalfr disappeared without a trace.

Zero no Tsukaima:Volume8 Chapter3 - MTL

2008-10-20T03:23:35Z

24.255.161.148:

First thought that crossed Saito’s mind after seeing the girl was…　

Golden light.

During the dream before, he had seen the golden light at the end.

That light became reality, blinding Saito’s eyes.

He hastily squinted. Once you get used, it doesn't actually shine. However, that girl's impression is too strong to be felt as a false light.

The girl who showed up was beautiful. No, word beautiful was too trite, she had a divine pretty face. When she moves, one wants to kneel down and worship her.

For the time being “Hada, wada, howada” Saito had to trouble to find any words as they were stuck in his throat.

“What's wrong?”

The girl asked in blank confusion.

“No, that, nothing, this.”

The girl look hesitant for a moment, then, as if having her mind set, took a deep breath and approached Saito. She wore a green, crude, short, one-piece dress, but rather than damaging her beauty, it suited her nicely. Slender lovely legs ran down her short skirt, with white sandals framing her pretty feet.

That simple attire eased up her beauty and created a friendly atmosphere.

Once coming to Saito, the girl laughed forcibly. She tried hard to make him relieved and smiled. Yet it wasn’t a beauty radiating smile, but kindheartedness.

“Thank goodness. Because you slept for two weeks…I was worried that you might not awake.”

“Did I sleep for so long…”

Though he was surprised that he slept for two weeks, but the girl’s beauty was even more shocking.

Haa, it looked as if she was covered with light, because of her long hair falling left, right and through the middle. Her blond hair like a waving golden sea reflected sunshine rays falling from the window, puzzling and dancing on her face.

It was like CG showing the face with a perfect outline and a perfect silhouette, beautiful, but making one nervous at the same time. Such a beautiful person without any thinkable flaws.

And… through the crevice of her golden hair, unnoticed, pointed ears peeped.

Such ear shape is quite unusual, he though while trying to move, and incomparable acute pain ran through his side. Until now he have not felt such strong pain.

That pain made him feel "alive". I am not dead, I feel life, thought Saito while trembling.

The way wilted flowers suck in water, relief filled Saito. It was a torrent of relief. He was safe for now and was swept by turmoil of emotions.

“I see… I am alive…”

Gradually he was moved to tears. I am alive, with such thought, even the aching wounds on his body felt dear.

“Ah, if it hurts it means I am alive.”

Teary-eyed Saito muttered.

Seeing that…

“W-well… are the bandages too tight?”

Blinking her clear, big, green eyes, the girl reached for Saito.

After confirming being alive, the girls' beauty in his presence, also became more real and made Saito’s heart tremble.

Aaah, touch of such beautiful person felt like a hit from a drumstick.

At once, feeling like a simpleton, Saito retreated.

Then the girl opened her eyes wide.

Then she noticed that an ear was peeping from the crevice of her hair is noticed and hurriedly covered it with both hands. In an instant her cheeks were dyed to pink.

“S-sorry.”

“Eh?”

“But don’t worry. I won’t do any harm.”

Saito looked blankly. It seems that Saito’s retreat was mistaken for fright. An unexpected misunderstanding. Saito lost his nerve only because of her beauty, not because of fright.

“No no! That, I am not afraid. But because of your b-b-bb…”

“Bb?”

“Beauty, well…”

Saying that Saito colored up. He was simply not accustomed saying 'You are beautiful' to a girl.

She made a surprised face.

“Beauty?”

“Y-yes.”

“You think so even after you saw my ear?”

She said removing hands from her ear.

“Yes.”

Suspicious, Saito nodded. Certainly, pointed ears were unusual. However, in Halkeginia with orcs, dragons, water spirits, there lived many strange beings. At this point, pointed ears did not surprise him much. Well, I guess there are people would not think so.

“…really, you are not shocked? Not scared?”

The girl watched Saito with a doubtful face.

“Really, I am not shocked and not scared. Why would I be afraid? Why do you ask? Besides, there are a lot more scary ones. Like dragons and trolls.”

The girl was relieved.

“It’s unusual for a human to not be afraid of an elf.”

“Elf?”

He has heard the name. He sought in the bottom of the memory and recalled it. Well certainly, mentioned in some talks. This was a name of who lives in the ‘east‘. According to the rumors they are vicious, and lives on a bad terms with humans in a holy land.

He did think them to be terrible, but the girl in front of him was far from that.

“Yes, elf. And I am ‘mixed’ one at that…”

Muttered the girl with a touch of self-hatred. Thereupon, a shadow covered her porcelain features.

A melancholy took over her face.

Confused for a moment… Saito had second thoughts.

Hey Saito, it's not time to appreciate the pretty girl.

Isn't there anything else for you to worry about?

How did I survive?

What happened to the war?

Louise?

Siesta?

Everyone?

However, there was something else to do before that. He’ll ask later.

“Did you help me?”

Saito said pointing at the bandages around his body.

“Yes" The girl nodded.

“I see…Thank you. Honestly, thank you.”

Saito thanked her many times. Even so, it was insufficient to express his gratitude.

The girl smiled shyly.

Somehow; she seemed to be embarrassed and dodged Saito’s words. Despite being an owner of a beautiful face, she seemed to loose her composure easily.

Though this girls behavior was naturally cute, Saito endured. Now it wasn’t the time to get love-struck. There were a lot of things that he wanted to hear first.

But... something was amiss.

Wasn’t it a little strange?

She helped me?

Heyhey, wasn’t I leaping against an army of 70,000?

From the looks, the girl wore village clothes. So how was she able to help him in a middle of the large army?

Gradually, suspicion built in Saito’s mind.

Then, her beauty, and the atmosphere surrounding her…

What if this elf woman was an enemy?

She tries to make me feel relieved to draw out some information…

When you think about it, this beautiful girl in front of me could really be an enemy’s trap. In movies and anime, the spies were usually beautiful women.

Moreover, after coming to this world and meeting Louise, Saito realized one the truth.

‘What looks cute may not be so from the inside.’

Such was the truth. And from the evidences that his body obtained – it was unshakable truth.

With such truth, his doubt in girl rose more.

“Fufufu…”

“What's wrong?”

Saito, cleared his throat, and asked in an calm voice.

“I really want to express my gratitude for helping me, however, there’s one thing I want to know.”

“Please.”

“Where I was helped?”

“Because you were lying in the forest, we brought you here.”

Lying in the forest?

Didn’t I fall, surrounded by a large army?

What forest?

Saito narrowed his eyes and watched the girl suspiciously.

Due to this, the atmosphere started to feel awkward…

“W-well, I’ll bring you food.”

Saying that, the girl tried to leave. Saito gripped her arm.

“Where have you put my sword?”

“Aah, that sword is yours? That, that sword, I did not know but he was making noise. I thought that it was better to not wake you up, so I placed him in the room on the other side….

Saito puckered up his eyebrows. He recalled words from an old detective drama. The beauty of rose has thorns. And in a final beautiful woman was a criminal. Damn, and said aloud.

“There must be a reason for Derf to be so loud.”

“Even if you say that, there must be a reason…”

She said in an embarrassed voice. Then, seeing Saito clasping her hand, the girl shamefully bit her lip.

“W-well… please, that, hand…”

The girl struggled to shake off Saito's hand. However, Saito doesn't let go. Frowning in pain, he drew slender girl’s arm to himself. The blush on girl's cheeks increased even more.

“Umm…let go…please.”

“Tell me the truth.”

But Saito was completely lost in the role of the great detective hunting down a criminal. A very bothering character. Even an encounter with death could not fix such a painful personality.

“You are from the Albion army. Say it, A-L-B-I-O-N.”

“N-no. I am not related to Albion nor to an army.”

With frightened face, girl shook her head. However, Saito’s detective feelings sense was completely convinced that she was part of the Albion army.

“Then how I was “lying in the forest”? I lost my consciousness in the middle of an enemy army! So there!”

“I-I do not know how…”

“Spit it out!”

“Ah..”

Saito pulled the girl making her loose the balance. Then she fell dawn on Saito’s thigh.

“Spit it out! S-eh?”

In an instant, Saito's face became pale.

Something big and soft crashed against his thigh.

Detective doubts about the girl where blown off from his head in an instant, and now other doubt swelled up in his mind.

Hey, Saito asked.

What object crashed against my thigh just now?

…Breasts?

It should be breasts.

However… it cannot be breasts. Surely, there cannot be such breast size. So, it isn’t.

Yet what would be normal breasts like? Saito imagined cooking. Big, soft bread. Stuffed animal. And yes - rounded square cushion.

Then what.

Still, even if it would be breasts. There are physical laws that breasts cannot disregard.

By an accident he caught her profile with his eyes. She was crimson. From shame and tension she seemed to not to be able to talk any more. Because Saito’s grip on her arm she could not stand up is not possible to stand up. Still, bravely, the girl struggled trying to stand up.

[[Image:ZnT08-077.jpg|thumb]]

Something hard stuck in Saito’s throat.

T-this especially. I, aah, I…

These soft, heavy objects on his thigh changed shape while moving.

Saito, with his mouth agape, watched the girl. Felt like hearts valve was breaking, almost making blood spout from the nose. His pulse was beating like drums, enthusiasm of life was coming back to Saito.

While watching the pointed ear which peeped from the crevice of her thin golden hair…three letters sparked in Saito’s head

T B R

Or saying in words…

The bust revolution.

Indeed… this was a revolutionary breasts size.

When compared it to the body lines, the size looks even bigger. This elf girl’s body was slender. He could see that when her body fell. Ankles are thin. Arms are also thin. Waist, neck – all are thin… However, only the breasts gone out of the ordinary groove. The breasts caused the revolt within this body.

If there was a law concerning the breasts size, then this would earn life imprisonment. No, death penalty. At least if Louise were a judge, it would be death penalty.

Aaah, because she wore wear voluminous clothes he had not realized. Aaah, because of her delicate arms, unconsciously mind applied that to the whole body. Aah aaah, for me, such breast size was all honesty.

“Ah, ya…ha, n.”

The girl let out sounds while struggling. This rascal, though her whole body is slender, why are the breasts so strange? It couldn’t be that breasts gathered all the nourishment, could it? I learned one day in science class from Mendelian teacher... this miracle could be explained by the laws of dominant inheritance...

His brains boiled, while thinking.

“Big sister is telling the truth!”

“Don’t do anything to Tiffa nee-chan!”

“Stop doing weird things to big sister!”

Children suddenly rushed into the Saito’s room. Seems like the children were watching them from the open door.

“Remove your hands from Tiffania onee-chan!”

Tiffania – seems to be the name of this beautiful elf girl. Children started hitting Saito, who was grasping her arm.

“Eh! No! This! Different! Children, it’s different!”

Though Saito tried to make excuses… children power was too strong. Though these kids a little while ago were frightened of the weird stranger.

With potential of huge breasts that cannot be expressed in a single phrase, this delicate elf girl, seemed to be the children's treasure.

“You are misunderstanding! This person’s breasts are too strange! Therefore I was surprised! It’s different! I was just surprised, that’s why I attacked!”

“Not different! It looked strange no mater what!”

It was justifiable.

“Ruffian! Be gone!”

“Wait! I’m not bad! That! Gyaa!”

“Eat this!” the girl with short blond hair hit his head severely with the frying-pan. Come to think of it, I was hit with the frying-pan in the dream as well, came trivial thought, before Saito started a journey to the unconscious world again.

<center>* * *</center>

While rubbing his aching head, Saito woke up again.

Tiffania opened the door and entered. Even after seeing again, she was beautiful. The color of her hair was bright and sparkling with gold and white, tres bien indeed, he thought.

She was embarrassed.

“Just a while ago, s-sorry for the children… because they believed… that you were doing strange things.”

Tiffania was carrying the heavy Derflinger in her arms. Unsho, yokkorasho – panting, she put strained expression that didn’t suit her face and leaned it against the bed.

“Derf!”

“Yoo, partner… Are you finally awake? I'm so glad, I'm so glad.”

Derflinger explained the things after Saito had fainted.

How he fell immediately before attacking general.

And how Derflinger using ‘absorbed amount of magic to move Gendalfr’ ability ran away to the forest.

“But, I was at a loss. And sad because you died. Your heart stopped too. I was fed up with making friends and then loosing them, what kind of legendary Derf I am.”

“Well, I survived…”

Saito, took a long look at himself again.

“Partner."

“Hold your tongue! Why haven’t you told me that you have such an ability?”

“I have forgotten… I am rather forgetful. But partner’s death made me sad. Partner is partner after all. No, not a legendary anymore, but partner is partner…”

He said in an inarticulate way, but Saito was not listening to Derflinger’s whining already.

Ignoring his aching body, he bowed to Tiffania.

“I'm really sorry! I…Though you helped me, I suspected you to take part in an enemy trap...”

“Eh? It’s all right. That, umm, don’t worry.”

Tiffania muttered, looking embarrassed.

“But, to heal such injury…”

Once again, the inborn curiosity raised it’s head. Saito asked anxiously.

“If you can, could you tell me? What magic you used to heal me when I was in an almost dead state?”

Tiffania, hesitating whether to say or not… showed a ring.

It was an old ring, only a dull silver plinth.

In that silver base for the fourth finger ring - there must have been a stone before.

“I was cured by this ring?”

Tiffania nodded with a stern face.

“Incredible ring! To cure such severe injury! If you have it, people won‘t die from injuries or diseases!“

Tiffania shook her head.

“That’s impossible.”

“What?” Saito was bewildered. Derflinger explained.

“Primordial magic. Elf treasure, isn’t it? The girl is half-elf.”

Tiffania was surprised.

“How do I know it? Anyhow, I lived very long, even though the memory is bad.”

“So… I'll tell you. As sword-san said the ‘primordial magic‘ with water power was placed into this ring. However, I do not know the name of it... it was given as keepsake from my dying mother.“

“Your mother was an elf?”

Tiffania nodded.

“This is rather complicated. I cannot tell you in full-detail… but, the magical power of the plinth was already used up.”

“Exactly. Since the water magic stone was placed in there, the magic was absorbed by the plinth itself. Therefore, there is only a plinth left. However, it cannot rise from the dead. It cannot heal the wounds of the dead ones.”

Saito was touched to the bottom of his heart. Though he didn’t understood well, somehow an important keepsake from her mother was used and he was cured.

Tiffania-san…right?”

“Tiffania it is. Though, if it is too hard to call me that, you can call me Tifa.”

Tiffania said, giving a smile that was embodiment of beauty. Hard to call, indeed.

“Tifa then. Really really, that…Let me express my greatest gratitude…Though it was such an important ring, to cure me…”

“Eh? It’s all right, it’s all right! Tools are there to be used after all!”

Tiffania said in panic.

“Indeed…”

Saito looked up.

“I would like to thank you, but I do not have anything to give but the little "power" I have!“

“Partner.”

In an embarrassed tone, Derflinger muttered. Disregarding him Saito continued.

“I cannot tell the details, but I can any weapon! Therefore, please tell when you are in trouble! For instance if a fierce animal or monster attacks the village at night…”

Saito, on the bed, clasped Tiffania's hand.

“F-for now…”

Tiffania mutters, giving a wry smile.

“You’ll see! Weapon! Grab! And runes on the left hand start to shine! Here!”

“Saito reached for Derflinger, who had been leaning against the bed and gripped him.

“Ah, partner…

For some reason Derflinger’s voice sounded embarrassed.

“Hey! When I grip the sword this way, the rune of the left hand…T-that?”

Saito stared blankly. Though Derflinger was gripped, nothing shone. Usually, the runes of the left hand shined and his body felt light, as if growing a pair of wings… yet, it didn’t lighten.

“W-what’s wrong?”

In panic, Saito watched his left hand, with his mouth widely agape.

“Rururu…”

“See, partner? I told you so. Not legendary anymore, but partner is a partner. But we are still same old, right? Friends, right? Therefore do not worry. Because I am still your partner. Thu-…”

Derflinger’s words were interrupted,

“What’s with runes?!”

Saito screamed.

And so…

The sign of Gandalfr disappeared without a trace.

Zero no Tsukaima:Volume8 Chapter3 - MTL

2008-10-19T00:24:25Z

24.255.161.148:

First thought that crossed Saito’s mind after seeing the girl was…　

Golden light.

During the dream before, he had seen the golden light at the end.

That light became reality, blinding Saito’s eyes.

He hastily squinted. Once you get used, it doesn't actually shine. However, that girl's impression is too strong to be felt as a false light.

The girl who showed up was beautiful. No, word beautiful was too trite, she had a divine pretty face. When she moves, one wants to kneel down and worship her.

For the time being “Hada, wada, howada” Saito had to trouble to find any words as they were stuck in his throat.

“What's wrong?”

The girl asked in blank confusion.

“No, that, nothing, this.”

The girl look hesitant for a moment, then, as if having her mind set, took a deep breath and approached Saito. She wore a green, crude, short, one-piece dress, but rather than damaging her beauty, it suited her nicely. Slender lovely legs ran down her short skirt, with white sandals framing her pretty feet.

That simple attire eased up her beauty and created a friendly atmosphere.

Once coming to Saito, the girl laughed forcibly. She tried hard to make him relieved and smiled. Yet it wasn’t a beauty radiating smile, but kindheartedness.

“Thank goodness. Because you slept for two weeks…I was worried that you might not awake.”

“Did I sleep for so long…”

Though he was surprised that he slept for two weeks, but the girl’s beauty was even more shocking.

Haa, it looked as if she was covered with light, because of her long hair falling left, right and through the middle. Her blond hair like a waving golden sea reflected sunshine rays falling from the window, puzzling and dancing on her face.

It was like CG showing the face with a perfect outline and a perfect silhouette, beautiful, but making one nervous at the same time. Such a beautiful person without any thinkable flaws.

And… through the crevice of her golden hair, unnoticed, pointed ears peeped.

Such ear shape is quite unusual, he though while trying to move, and incomparable acute pain ran through his side. Until now he have not felt such strong pain.

That pain made him feel "alive". I am not dead, I feel life, thought Saito while trembling.

The way wilted flowers suck in water, relief filled Saito. It was a torrent of relief. He was safe for now and was swept by turmoil of emotions.

“I see… I am alive…”

Gradually he was moved to tears. I am alive, with such thought, even the aching wounds on his body felt dear.

“Ah, if it hurts it means I am alive.”

Teary-eyed Saito muttered.

Seeing that…

“W-well… are the bandages too tight?”

Blinking her clear, big, green eyes, the girl reached for Saito.

After confirming being alive, the girls' beauty in his presence, also became more real and made Saito’s heart tremble.

Aaah, touch of such beautiful person felt like a hit from a drumstick.

At once, feeling like a simpleton, Saito retreated.

Then the girl opened her eyes wide.

Then she noticed that an ear was peeping from the crevice of her hair is noticed and hurriedly covered it with both hands. In an instant her cheeks were dyed to pink.

“S-sorry.”

“Eh?”

“But don’t worry. I won’t do any harm.”

Saito looked blankly. It seems that Saito’s retreat was mistaken for fright. An unexpected misunderstanding. Saito lost his nerve only because of her beauty, not because of fright.

“No no! That, I am not afraid. But because of your b-b-bb…”

“Bb?”

“Beauty, well…”

Saying that Saito colored up. He was simply not accustomed saying 'You are beautiful' to a girl.

She made a surprised face.

“Beauty?”

“Y-yes.”

“You think so even after you saw my ear?”

She said removing hands from her ear.

“Yes.”

Suspicious, Saito nodded. Certainly, pointed ears were unusual. However, in Halkeginia with orcs, dragons, water spirits, there lived many strange beings. At this point, pointed ears did not surprise him much. Well, I guess there are people would not think so.

“…really, you are not shocked? Not scared?”

The girl watched Saito with a doubtful face.

“Really, I am not shocked and not scared. Why would I be afraid? Why do you ask? Besides, there are a lot more scary ones. Like dragons and trolls.”

The girl was relieved.

“It’s unusual for a human to not be afraid of an elf.”

“Elf?”

He has heard the name. He sought in the bottom of the memory and recalled it. Well certainly, mentioned in some talks. This was a name of who lives in the ‘east‘. According to the rumors they are vicious, and lives on a bad terms with humans in a holy land.

He did think them to be terrible, but the girl in front of him was far from that.

“Yes, elf. And I am ‘mixed’ one at that…”

Muttered the girl with a touch of self-hatred. Thereupon, a shadow covered her porcelain features.

A melancholy took over her face.

Confused for a moment… Saito had second thoughts.

Hey Saito, it's not time to appreciate the pretty girl.

Isn't there anything else for you to worry about?

How did I survive?

What happened to the war?

Louise?

Siesta?

Everyone?

However, there was something else to do before that. He’ll ask later.

“Did you help me?”

Saito said pointing at the bandages around his body.

“Yes" The girl nodded.

“I see…Thank you. Honestly, thank you.”

Saito thanked her many times. Even so, it was insufficient to express his gratitude.

The girl smiled shyly.

Somehow; she seemed to be embarrassed and dodged Saito’s words. Despite being an owner of a beautiful face, she seemed to loose her composure easily.

Though this girls behavior was naturally cute, Saito endured. Now it wasn’t the time to get love-struck. There were a lot of things that he wanted to hear first.

But... something was amiss.

Wasn’t it a little strange?

She helped me?

Heyhey, wasn’t I leaping against an army of 70,000?

From the looks, the girl wore village clothes. So how was she able to help him in a middle of the large army?

Gradually, suspicion built in Saito’s mind.

Then, her beauty, and the atmosphere surrounding her…

What if this elf woman was an enemy?

She tries to make me feel relieved to draw out some information…

When you think about it, this beautiful girl in front of me could really be an enemy’s trap. In movies and anime, the spies were usually beautiful women.

Moreover, after coming to this world and meeting Louise, Saito realized one the truth.

‘What looks cute may not be so from the inside.’

Such was the truth. And from the evidences that his body obtained – it was unshakable truth.

With such truth, his doubt in girl rose more.

“Fufufu…”

“What's wrong?”

Saito, cleared his throat, and asked in an calm voice.

“I really want to express my gratitude for helping me, however, there’s one thing I want to know.”

“Please.”

“Where I was helped?”

“Because you were lying in the forest, we brought you here.”

Lying in the forest?

Didn’t I fall, surrounded by a large army?

What forest?

Saito narrowed his eyes and watched the girl suspiciously.

Due to this, the atmosphere started to feel awkward…

“W-well, I’ll bring you food.”

Saying that, the girl tried to leave. Saito gripped her arm.

“Where have you put my sword?”

“Aah, that sword is yours? That, that sword, I did not know but he was making noise. I thought that it was better to not wake you up, so I placed him in the room on the other side….

Saito puckered up his eyebrows. He recalled words from an old detective drama. The beauty of rose has thorns. And in a final beautiful woman was a criminal. Damn, and said aloud.

“There must be a reason for Derf to be so loud.”

“Even if you say that, there must be a reason…”

She said in an embarrassed voice. Then, seeing Saito clasping her hand, the girl shamefully bit her lip.

“W-well… please, that, hand…”

The girl struggled to shake off Saito's hand. However, Saito doesn't let go. Frowning in pain, he drew slender girl’s arm to himself. The blush on girl's cheeks increased even more.

“Umm…let go…please.”

“Tell me the truth.”

But Saito was completely lost in the role of the great detective hunting down a criminal. A very bothering character. Even an encounter with death could not fix such a painful personality.

“You are from the Albion army. Say it, A-L-B-I-O-N.”

“N-no. I am not related to Albion nor to an army.”

With frightened face, girl shook her head. However, Saito’s detective feelings sense was completely convinced that she was part of the Albion army.

“Then how I was “lying in the forest”? I lost my consciousness in the middle of an enemy army! So there!”

“I-I do not know how…”

“Spit it out!”

“Ah..”

Saito pulled the girl making her loose the balance. Then she fell dawn on Saito’s thigh.

“Spit it out! S-eh?”

In an instant, Saito's face became pale.

Something big and soft crashed against his thigh.

Detective doubts about the girl where blown off from his head in an instant, and now other doubt swelled up in his mind.

Hey, Saito asked.

What object crashed against my thigh just now?

…Breasts?

It should be breasts.

However… it cannot be breasts. Surely, there cannot be such breast size. So, it isn’t.

Yet what would be normal breasts like? Saito imagined cooking. Big, soft bread. Stuffed animal. And yes - rounded square cushion.

Then what.

Still, even if it would be breasts. There are physical laws that breasts cannot disregard.

By an accident he caught her profile with his eyes. She was crimson. From shame and tension she seemed to not to be able to talk any more. Because Saito’s grip on her arm she could not stand up is not possible to stand up. Still, bravely, the girl struggled trying to stand up.

[[Image:ZnT08-077.jpg|thumb]]

Something hard stuck in Saito’s throat.

T-this especially. I, aah, I…

These soft, heavy objects on his thigh changed shape while moving.

Saito, with his mouth agape, watched the girl. Felt like hearts valve was breaking, almost making blood spout from the nose. His pulse was beating like drums, enthusiasm of life was coming back to Saito.

While watching the pointed ear which peeped from the crevice of her thin golden hair…three letters sparked in Saito’s head

T B R

Or saying in words…

The bust revolution.

Indeed… this was a revolutionary breasts size.

When compared it to the body lines, the size looks even bigger. This elf girl’s body was slender. He could see that when her body fell. Ankles are thin. Arms are also thin. Waist, neck – all are thin… However, only the breasts gone out of the ordinary groove. The breasts caused the revolt within this body.

If there was a law concerning the breasts size, then this would earn life imprisonment. No, death penalty. At least if Louise were a judge, it would be death penalty.

Aaah, because she wore wear voluminous clothes he had not realized. Aaah, because of her delicate arms, unconsciously mind applied that to the whole body. Aah aaah, for me, such breast size was all honesty.

“Ah, ya…ha, n.”

The girl let out sounds while struggling. This rascal, though her whole body is slender, why are the breasts so strange? It couldn’t be that breasts gathered all the nourishment, could it? I learned one day in science class from Mendelian teacher... this miracle could be explained by the laws of dominant inheritance...

His brains boiled, while thinking.

“Big sister is telling the truth!”

“Don’t do anything to Tiffa nee-chan!”

“Stop doing weird things to big sister!”

Children suddenly rushed into the Saito’s room. Seems like the children were watching them from the open door.

“Remove your hands from Tiffania onee-chan!”

Tiffania – seems to be the name of this beautiful elf girl. Children started hitting Saito, who was grasping her arm.

“Eh! No! This! Different! Children, it’s different!”

Though Saito tried to make excuses… children power was too strong. Though these kids a little while ago were frightened of the weird stranger.

With potential of huge breasts that cannot be expressed in a single phrase, this delicate elf girl, seemed to be the children's treasure.

“You are misunderstanding! This person’s breasts are too strange! Therefore I was surprised! It’s different! I was just surprised, that’s why I attacked!”

“Not different! It looked strange no mater what!”

It was justifiable.

“Ruffian! Be gone!”

“Wait! I’m not bad! That! Gyaa!”

“Eat this!” the girl with short blond hair severely hit his head with the frying-pan. Come to think of it, I was hit with the frying-pan in the dream as well, came trivial thought, before Saito started journey to the unconscious world again.

<center>* * *</center>

Zero no Tsukaima:Volume8 Chapter3 - MTL

2008-10-18T23:42:36Z

24.255.161.148:

First thought that crossed Saito’s min after seeing the girl was…　

Golden light.

During the dream before, he had seen the golden light at the end.

That light became reality, blinding Saito’s eyes.

He hastily squinted. Once you get used, it doesn't actually shine. However, that girl's impression is too strong to be felt as a false light.

The girl who showed up was beautiful. No, word beautiful was too trite, she had a divine pretty face. When she moves, one wants to kneel down and worship her.

For the time being “Hada, wada, howada” Saito had to trouble to find any words as they were stuck in his throat.

“What's wrong?”

The girl asked in blank confusion.

“No, that, nothing, this.”

The girl look hesitant for a moment, then, as if having her mind set, took a deep breath and approached Saito. She wore a green, crude, short, one-piece dress, but rather than damaging her beauty, it suited her nicely. Slender lovely legs ran down her short skirt, with white sandals framing her pretty feet.

That simple attire eased up her beauty and created a friendly atmosphere.

Once coming to Saito, the girl laughed forcibly. She tried hard to make him relieved and smiled. Yet it wasn’t a beauty radiating smile, but kindheartedness.

“Thank goodness. Because you slept for two weeks…I was worried that you might not awake.”

“Did I sleep for so long…”

Though he was surprised that he slept for two weeks, but the girl’s beauty was even more shocking.

Haa, it looked as if she was covered with light, because of her long hair falling left, right and through the middle. Her blond hair like a waving golden sea reflected sunshine rays falling from the window, puzzling and dancing on her face.

It was like CG showing the face with a perfect outline and a perfect silhouette, beautiful, but making one nervous at the same time. Such a beautiful person without any thinkable flaws.

And… through the crevice of her golden hair, unnoticed, pointed ears peeped.

Such ear shape is quite unusual, he though while trying to move, and incomparable acute pain ran through his side. Until now he have not felt such strong pain.

That pain made him feel "alive". I am not dead, I feel life, thought Saito while trembling.

The way wilted flowers suck in water, relief filled Saito. It was a torrent of relief. He was safe for now and was swept by turmoil of emotions.

“I see… I am alive…”

Gradually he was moved to tears. I am alive, with such thought, even the aching wounds on his body felt dear.

“Ah, if it hurts it means I am alive.”

Teary-eyed Saito muttered.

Seeing that…

“W-well… are the bandages too tight?”

Blinking her clear, big, green eyes, the girl reached for Saito.

After confirming being alive, the girls' beauty in his presence, also became more real and made Saito’s heart tremble.

Aaah, touch of such beautiful person felt like a hit from a drumstick.

At once, feeling like a simpleton, Saito retreated.

Then the girl opened her eyes wide.

Then she noticed that an ear was peeping from the crevice of her hair is noticed and hurriedly covered it with both hands. In an instant her cheeks were dyed to pink.

“S-sorry.”

“Eh?”

“But don’t worry. I won’t do any harm.”

Saito looked blankly. It seems that Saito’s retreat was mistaken for fright. An unexpected misunderstanding. Saito lost his nerve only because of her beauty, not because of fright.

“No no! That, I am not afraid. But because of your b-b-bb…”

“Bb?”

“Beauty, well…”

Saying that Saito colored up. He was simply not accustomed saying 'You are beautiful' to a girl.

She made a surprised face.

“Beauty?”

“Y-yes.”

“You think so even after you saw my ear?”

She said removing hands from her ear.

“Yes.”

Suspicious, Saito nodded. Certainly, pointed ears were unusual. However, in Halkeginia with orcs, dragons, water spirits, there lived many strange beings. At this point, pointed ears did not surprise him much. Well, I guess there are people would not think so.

“…really, you are not shocked? Not scared?”

The girl watched Saito with a doubtful face.

“Really, I am not shocked and not scared. Why would I be afraid? Why do you ask? Besides, there are a lot more scary ones. Like dragons and trolls.”

The girl was relieved.

“It’s unusual for a human to not be afraid of an elf.”

“Elf?”

He has heard the name. He sought in the bottom of the memory and recalled it. Well certainly, mentioned in some talks. This was a name of who lives in the ‘east‘. According to the rumors they are vicious, and lives on a bad terms with humans in a holy land.

He did think them to be terrible, but the girl in front of him was far from that.

“Yes, elf. And I am ‘mixed’ one at that…”

Muttered the girl with a touch of self-hatred. Thereupon, a shadow covered her porcelain features.

A melancholy took over her face.

Confused for a moment… Saito had second thoughts.

Hey Saito, it's not time to appreciate the pretty girl.

Isn't there anything else for you to worry about?

How did I survive?

What happened to the war?

Louise?

Siesta?

Everyone?

However, there was something else to do before that. He’ll ask later.

“Did you help me?”

Saito said pointing at the bandages around his body.

“Yes" The girl nodded.

“I see…Thank you. Honestly, thank you.”

Saito thanked her many times. Even so, it was insufficient to express his gratitude.

The girl smiled shyly.

Somehow; she seemed to be embarrassed and dodged Saito’s words. Despite being an owner of a beautiful face, she seemed to loose her composure easily.

Though this girls behavior was naturally cute, Saito endured. Now it wasn’t the time to get love-struck. There were a lot of things that he wanted to hear first.

But... something was amiss.

Wasn’t it a little strange?

She helped me?

Heyhey, wasn’t I leaping against an army of 70,000?

From the looks, the girl wore village clothes. So how was she able to help him in a middle of the large army?

Gradually, suspicion built in Saito’s mind.

Then, her beauty, and the atmosphere surrounding her…

What if this elf woman was an enemy?

She tries to make me feel relieved to draw out some information…

When you think about it, this beautiful girl in front of me could really be an enemy’s trap. In movies and anime, the spies were usually beautiful women.

Moreover, after coming to this world and meeting Louise, Saito realized one the truth.

‘What looks cute may not be so from the inside.’

Such was the truth. And from the evidences that his body obtained – it was unshakable truth.

With such truth, his doubt in girl rose more.

“Fufufu…”

“What's wrong?”

Saito, cleared his throat, and asked in an calm voice.

“I really want to express my gratitude for helping me, however, there’s one thing I want to know.”

“Please.”

“Where I was helped?”

“Because you were lying in the forest, we brought you here.”

Lying in the forest?

Didn’t I fall, surrounded by a large army?

What forest?

Saito narrowed his eyes and watched the girl suspiciously.

Due to this, the atmosphere started to feel awkward…

“W-well, I’ll bring you food.”

Saying that, the girl tried to leave. Saito gripped her arm.

“Where have you put my sword?”

“Aah, that sword is yours? That, that sword, I did not know but he was making noise. I thought that it was better to not wake you up, so I placed him in the room on the other side….

Saito puckered up his eyebrows. He recalled words from an old detective drama. The beauty of rose has thorns. And in a final beautiful woman was a criminal. Damn, and said aloud.

“There must be a reason for Derf to be so loud.”

“Even if you say that, there must be a reason…”

She said in an embarrassed voice. Then, seeing Saito clasping her hand, the girl shamefully bit her lip.

“W-well… please, that, hand…”

The girl struggled to shake off Saito's hand. However, Saito doesn't let go. Frowning in pain, he drew slender girl’s arm to himself. The blush on girl's cheeks increased even more.

“Umm…let go…please.”

“Tell me the truth.”

But Saito was completely lost in the role of the great detective hunting down a criminal. A very bothering character. Even an encounter with death could not fix such a painful personality.

“You are from the Albion army. Say it, A-L-B-I-O-N.”

“N-no. I am not related to Albion nor to an army.”

With frightened face, girl shook her head. However, Saito’s detective feelings sense was completely convinced that she was part of the Albion army.

“Then how I was “lying in the forest”? I lost my consciousness in the middle of an enemy army! So there!”

“I-I do not know how…”

“Spit it out!”

“Ah..”

Saito pulled the girl making her loose the balance. Then she fell dawn on Saito’s thigh.

“Spit it out! S-eh?”

In an instant, Saito's face became pale.

Something big and soft crashed against his thigh.

Detective doubts about the girl where blown off from his head in an instant, and now other doubt swelled up in his mind.

Hey, Saito asked.

What object crashed against my thigh just now?

…Breasts?

It should be breasts.

However… it cannot be breasts. Surely, there cannot be such breast size. So, it isn’t.

Yet what would be normal breasts like? Saito imagined cooking. Big, soft bread. Stuffed animal. And yes - rounded square cushion.

Then what.

Still, even if it would be breasts. There are physical laws that breasts cannot disregard.

By an accident he caught her profile with his eyes. She was crimson. From shame and tension she seemed to not to be able to talk any more. Because Saito’s grip on her arm she could not stand up is not possible to stand up. Still, bravely, the girl struggled trying to stand up.

[[Image:ZnT08-077.jpg|thumb]]

Something hard stuck in Saito’s throat.

T-this especially. I, aah, I…

These soft, heavy objects on his thigh changed shape while moving.

Saito, with his mouth agape, watched the girl. Felt like hearts valve was breaking, almost making blood spout from the nose. His pulse was beating like drums, enthusiasm of life was coming back to Saito.

While watching the pointed ear which peeped from the crevice of her thin golden hair…three letters sparked in Saito’s head

T B R

Or saying in words…

The bust revolution.

Indeed… this was a revolutionary breasts size.

When compared it to the body lines, the size looks even bigger. This elf girl’s body was slender. He could see that when her body fell. Ankles are thin. Arms are also thin. Waist, neck – all are thin… However, only the breasts gone out of the ordinary groove. The breasts caused the revolt within this body.

If there was a law concerning the breasts size, then this would earn life imprisonment. No, death penalty. At least if Louise were a judge, it would be death penalty.

Aaah, because she wore wear voluminous clothes he had not realized. Aaah, because of her delicate arms, unconsciously mind applied that to the whole body. Aah aaah, for me, such breast size was all honesty.

“Ah, ya…ha, n.”

The girl let out sounds while struggling. This rascal, though her whole body is slender, why are the breasts so strange? It couldn’t be that breasts gathered all the nourishment, could it? I learned one day in science class from Mendelian teacher... this miracle could be explained by the laws of dominant inheritance...

His brains boiled, while thinking.

“Big sister is telling the truth!”

“Don’t do anything to Tiffa nee-chan!”

“Stop doing weird things to big sister!”

Children suddenly rushed into the Saito’s room. Seems like the children were watching them from the open door.

“Remove your hands from Tiffania onee-chan!”

Tiffania – seems to be the name of this beautiful elf girl. Children started hitting Saito, who was grasping her arm.

“Eh! No! This! Different! Children, it’s different!”

Though Saito tried to make excuses… children power was too strong. Though these kids a little while ago were frightened of the weird stranger.

With potential of huge breasts that cannot be expressed in a single phrase, this delicate elf girl, seemed to be the children's treasure.

“You are misunderstanding! This person’s breasts are too strange! Therefore I was surprised! It’s different! I was just surprised, that’s why I attacked!”

“Not different! It looked strange no mater what!”

It was justifiable.

“Ruffian! Be gone!”

“Wait! I’m not bad! That! Gyaa!”

“Eat this!” the girl with short blond hair severely hit his head with the frying-pan. Come to think of it, I was hit with the frying-pan in the dream as well, came trivial thought, before Saito started journey to the unconscious world again.

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Zero no Tsukaima:Volume8 Chapter2 - MTL

2008-10-17T04:07:46Z

24.255.161.148: /* Chapter Two: Saito's Morning */

===Chapter Two: Saito's Morning===

RING RING RING RING RING RING!...The alarm clock rang, and Saito opened his sleepy eyes.

He slowly climbed out of his bed.

This is Earth’s Japan, Tokyo and his own family’s two story six rooms home. In his own bedroom. In an instant, he had a strange feeling, a kind of feeling that is difficult to explain.

It was his bedroom! But why was there an sense of unease?

Still half a sleep and half awake, Saito looked at the cat-like alarm clock: 8:30AM. The sense of unease was melted away, and he screamed, “CRAP!” and flipped out of the bed.

Isn’t this time almost late?

Saito leaped down the stairs and reached the first floor, then screamed at his mother who was washing dishes in the kitchen.

“Mother! Why didn’t you wake me?”

“Don’t I always tell you, you have to get up on your own in the morning?”

In that instant, an overwhelming sense of homesickness nearly ran him over.

Looking at his mother’s back, Saito had a sense of someone seeing a loved one long lost, although he saw his mother’s shadow everyday, why was there such an overwhelming sense?

But now is not the time to worry about it, he was almost late for school. Saito flew into the living room, put on the school uniform he left there, and then ran back to the kitchen with mother: “I'm already late, gotta go mom!” grabbing a piece of toast from the kitchen table, then stuffing it into his mouth like a mouse, swallowing as he dashed out the door.

Ou of the house and straight into the residential streets.

Saito suddenly froze on the spot.

Mother often complained about the house across the streets and its terrible red walls.
Saito took the time to “borrow” a couple fruits from neighbor’s date tree. And the ground near a nearby tree lamp has a vending machine for fruit juice.

The usual and normal scene. Although it is an scene he is used to, but there was an overwhelming sense of longing, that made everything feel dearer.

This is third time today he felt this strange.

Saito stood there dumbfounded, unable to come up with a reason for this.

In that moment, someone called out to him from behind.

“Saito-san!”

Saito turned around, only to find a black haired girl in his school's uniform standing there.

“Siesta!”

There was no mistake, it was really siesta.

Used to be a maid in the Tristan Magical Academy, yet now stood there wearing a school uniform.

Sieasta wore the western clothes Saito saw before, giving her a fresh sense of cuteness. Along with the mini-skirt worn by other students, blue western blouse with an white shirt, along with knee length socks.

What would be Siesta doing in Tokyo?

Why is she wearing his school’s uniform?

Although he still had some difficult to explain questions, but let’s take care of the first question that comes to mind. “Why are you dressed like this?”

Siesta answered Saito's question with a confused look.

“Because Saito-san and I go to the same school, isn’t it normal I wear the same uniform?”

Oh, it is so. Saito nodded in understanding. The way she said it seemed to be correct, but right now Saito’s head was a little fuzzy, so he couldn’t really pinpoint what was wrong.

Siesta ran by, grabbing on to Saito’s arm.

“Wait wait wait wait…”

Siesta’s face turned red, unable to finish her sentence.

“I have been waiting for you for a while…I want to go to school together….so..”

“Oh, is that so? Ok, let’s go together.”

Forget it, she is so cute, going together shouldn’t be a problem. Saito dismissed the question that came floating into his head.

“Great!” Siesta said smiling and took a step forward. The spring wind flew against her body.

“Oh!” The strong wind lifted her short skirt.

The skirt revealed snow-white flesh, causing Saito to pinch his nose in reflex.

“Why, Siesta, why are you not wearing any underwear?”

Siesta using her hands to hold down her skirt, shamefully replied,

“Because, because I am not one of those noble born girls, who own those flowery panties…”

“Japan doesn’t have any of those nobilities!”

“That is true…”

That is a really strange answer, Saito thought, feeling the incompatibility.

It seems everything makes sense, yet it feels nothing does…

Just as the two stood there dumbfounded…

Saito was sent flying by a force slamming behind him, and instantly collapsed on the ground in front of him.

The person who knocked him down was a peach haired girl. She also had a piece of bread in her mouth and complained at the same time,

“Late, late, I am late!”

The young girl continues her complaints then turned around, stomping Saito several more times with her foot.

“You! You!”

Saito desperately tried to get up.

“Ah, late, really late!!”

The young girl swang her foot again, this time aiming for Saito’s face; Saito collapsed again with a yelp.

“Miss La Valliere!”

Siesta yelled.

“Ah….late, I said we are late!”

The girl that is called La Valliere continued to scream "late", yet at the same time dance on Saito’s fallen body.

Saito lying on the ground, shouted loudly, “If you know you are late, then stop dancing on my body!”

With that shout, the tiny peach haired girl stopped. With her arms around her chest, she stared at Saito and asked,

“Where were you staring at? Your face is red!” There was a sense of unease in her voice as she asked.

This young lady wore the same style of uniform as Siesta’s - Saito’s school uniform. But the way she wore it was different. She kept her tux’s buttons left open, and kept the tie loose, which made her appear to be very loose. But that peach hair and tea colored eyes were indeed Louise.

“Why are you wearing your clothes like that?”

But Louise didn’t even appear to notice Saito’s question.

“Where were you looking at? Speak!”

“It has nothing to do with you!” Just as Saito finished, he was rewarded with Louise’s foot in his face.

“Of course it has to do with me! You are my familiar, So no matter what happens you are only allowed to look at me! If you look at other people, I will teach you a lesson!”

Louise angrily stared at Siesta.

“So, so, so when you go stare at the big breasted maid, then it means serious punishment! Do you understand?”

“What are you joking about?” Saito yelled. He jumped up and grabbed Louise’s shoulder.

“Eh…” Louise yelped sharply as she collapsed on the ground, and Saito landed on top of her, his eyes transfixed on her face.

“You, what are you doing? …you, you plan to attack your master?”

“Correct.”

“Don’t you dare doing anything! I am a noble, you are a commoner!”

“Noble princesses wouldn’t dress like this!”

Yelled Saito pointing at Louise’s loose socks.

“What, what’s the matter? What I wear is my own business! You are only a familiar, mind your own business!”

“What familiar? What nobility? What Master? It is not same here! Because we are in Japan!”

“Don’t talk nonsense!” Louise yelled raging. Saito restrained raging Louise and looked into her burning eyes.

“You… wanted this to happen, right?”

Though words came from his mouth, they did not seem to be his. Even though he talked… it felt as if he was watching a movie about other characters.

“…Eh?”

“You wanted to be pushed down by me, didn’t you? That’s why you wore that black cat costume. For me to push you down. Right? Speak up. Heeey, speak up!”

These words have been said some time ago, Saito thought strangely calmly, while shouting.

Then the girl's cheeks dyed pink, like the color of her hair. She turned her head and looked the other way.

“D-don’t be s-silly. Who wanted to be pushed down? S-stop joking, let me go in this instant or I’ll kick you.”

“Then kick.”

Hearing such strong words, Louise bit her lip.

“D-don’t anger me….” She said in a feeble voice.

“Well then, itadakimasu.” He nodded seriously and started unfasten the shirt at her knolls. I did this before, he thought. Then his head was hit with the frying-pan by Siesta who stood behind.

“Auch!”

“This is a middle of the road. It’s embarrassing, please stop.”

“Frying-pan, where…”

“I carry it to cook.”

“Butt out!” Louise screamed rudely at Siesta. Siesta turned to Louise.

“Why are you so mad, even though I helped you? That all these words about ‘anger’ must be a lie. It’s not your real intention. You wanted to be pushed down after all.“

“L-lies! Maid should be silent and do the laundry!”

“I would do the laundry if you would lend me the washboard.”

“Haah? I don’t have a washboard!”

“Not true. You have a splendid one over there.”

She pointed at Louise’s chest. Louise let out a penetrating scream.

“Keeeeeeeeeeee!”

“Wash with plain chest♪ With bubbles wash♪ Scrub scrub scrub♪”

Louise jumped at singing Siesta.

“Whaaat! Big breasts are all that you have maid! Flirting with men is all that you think about! Not even wearing underwear!”

“Aren’t you the same! You always think how to get laid! Wearing next to nothing! Ridiculous noble! Always eagerly awaiting with shiny eyes to be pushed down by Saito-san! Don’t you have any shame?!”

What! Undeveloped! Stupid maid! The quarreled turned into grapple show between the two. Skirts fluttering, claws spread, gripping each others hair, they were rolling on the ground like two raging chickens.

“S-stop…” though Saito muttered, the pair were not listening at all.

Then...The black limousine drove up.

The door at the drivers side opened and Mazarini, dressed up in white gloves and black suit, stepped out. When Mazarini opened the door at the back seat, he bowed reverently.

Henrietta dressed in a white dress showed up from inside. She wore a brimless hat decorated with flowers. Her dress reminded more of a young lade rather than princess. She held an elegant handbag at her side.

Henrietta ran up to Saito and offered her hand.

“You stopped an army of 70,000.”

“Yes.” Saito replied boldly.

“You were truly unstoppable. Aaah, you are a savior of Tristain. Though this useless queen cannot do anything, I can’t leave such loyalty unrewarded. Well, kiss this hand.”

Saito took the hand and pressed his lips, next, Henrietta wrapped her arms around Saito’s neck.

“P-Princess?”

“Call me Ann. Next, on the lips, for compassion.”

Flustered Henrietta embraced Saito's head closely and puckered up her lips.

Not good, Saito thought and in an instant heard growls.

“What are you doing to Princess-sama!”

“Always nobles! You always prefer them! It’s impossible for a village girl to be noticed!”

Saito knowing very well what it means to become Louise’s and Siesta’s target, quickly shook off Henrietta’s arms and ran off.

“Wait! Let’s continue the evening in cheap hotel!”

Henrietta shouted.

“What continuation in cheap hotel?! What!”

“What did you do in there! Surely you wore weird clothes again!”

Siesta and Louise ran after him shouting.

While he was trying to escape, an American Bike appeared out of the corner. Scarron and Jessica were sitting on it, all dressed up in tight leather clothes.

Saito leaped over the pair’s motorcycle and fell.

Jessica jumped out of the bikes hull and looked down at sprawled Saito.

“Stop being useless. Quickly, help me to sell this oil."

“Y-you…”

“Ara? Not energetic? Then how about this to rise your motivation?”

She threw him a mischievous glance and through the crevice of her leather jacket led Saito’s hand into the valley of her well-developed bosom.

Now he was in a trouble.

“W-wait a second!”

“Wait for what?” Jessica said in an amorous voice that tickles man’s heart, and watched him through sparkling eyes.

“You are a girl right? So don’t act this…”

But Jessica’s eyes made Saito hold his breath…

“That Brunet again!”

“My cousin! What the!”

Saito left Jessica and began to run again. He escaped to the Main Street and while elbowing his way through the crowd he knocked against someone.

“S-sorry.”

He knocked against a woman with long pink hair. She wore a thin purple cardigan and was holding a leash to which many dogs were connected.

Bark. Bark bark. Bark bark bark.

The dogs drew closer to Saito.

“Dog! Many dogs! Good doggies! Uwaa! Waawaa!”

“Ara ara, they seem to like you a lot.”

He knew that woman by sight. She was part of Louise’s family.

This gentle aura around this woman with long pink hair.

She pressed her hand to her mouth, trying to suppress a giggle. This woman was Cattleya, Louise’s elder sister. Catlleya’s dogs nuzzled against Saito.

“Ah! Hey! Stop! Stop it!”

Sniff sniff, bark bark, sniff sniff, bark bark.

“Whaaa! Now between dogs! Don’t you match well! Adorable! What! What are you doing to big sister!”

Louise ran up shouting.

“Even with dogs! I can’t allow it!”

Siesta shouted.

Both had a terrible look on their faces. If he would be caught by those two, his life would be in danger. But because of the leaning dogs he could not do anything.

“You perverted dog!”

The moment when Louise shouted jumping at him… Saito was lifted in the air

“F-flying?”

Saito looked up, and found himself caught by a Wind Dragon. Sitting on the Drake was a blue haired girl, it turned out to be Tabitha and her familiar, Sylphid, the familiar Sylphid was carrying Saito on its back.

Not understanding why, Tabitha was wearing an airplane stewardess outfit. A young girl like Tabitha wearing a stewardess dress, appears very, very strange. Like a gag in a story.

Even though Tabitha was dressed like this she still remained focused on her book.

“What, what the..Oh, it is you… never mind, thank you for saving me.”

Saito expressed his gratitude feeling massive relief.

But Tabitha remained the same as a ever, without making a sound.

Saito remained silent for a moment too, but everything became even more awkward, so he decided to find a topic to chat about, and finally saw Tabitha’s book.

“You know I always wondered…what kind of books are you always reading?”

Tabitha refused to answer.

Without any other method, Saito decided to go behind her and peek at the book. When he saw the title, he could not stop laughing: “Ah? Romance Technique-How to make boys like you…you…is this kind of book?? Ahahahaha! You have this kind of interest?”

Tabitha, without replying, continued to leaf through the book. Her eyes did not reveal a sliver of emotion, so it was impossible to tell if she was mad or embarrassed.

“That kind of thing, no matter how many books you read, is useless. First you have to learn how to talk to a boy. Because the purpose of your heart is important.” Saito appeared to be very knowledgeable about the matter and added: “No matter what, a person like you who never talks, is an impossible situation.”

Saito lightly patted Tabitha’s head, and Tabitha just nodded her head toward his hand.

“Right, use me as an model, let’s practice talking”

The blue haired girl silently stared at Saito’s face. No matter how hard he tried, nothing was coming out of Tabitha’s mouth.

“Hey, what are you planning? If it is like this you will never find a boyfriend! Come, Come on! You should know more words than spells, come on! Say something!”

He remained half joking, shaking the little girl’s head left and right. In that moment, Tabitha stood up.

“I know it.”

“Oh?”

Tabitha remained expressionless, but like a machine-gun she spat out a string of words:

“Can’t find a boyfriend? Mind your business! Stuck between the maid and the boob-less mage, you have no right to talk about me. Someone like you, all you need to see is the princess, the village girl or elder sister with big breasts and you instantly have that “look”, really a mess. Then you will say ‘no no, I can’t do this kind of thing, because I am from another world, so I cannot support your feelings.’ But while you talk, your body doesn’t react the same way”

“You, You” Saito’s head became red as a tomato.

“A person like you would seriously annoy them both, you make them want to come after you with violence.”

Saito looked at Tabitha’s height and replied, “You, you little chibi, don’t talk so spirited like that.”

The girl’s body is a head shorter than Louise, But Tabitha’s expression remained unchanged, and added, “Who is a chibi? You are the real chibi! A brainless person like you who tries to step into two ships with one foot, you are ten years to early!”

"Gya!"

Saito suddenly curled into a ball aboard the Wind Dragon. Because he apparently was kicked between groins by Tabitha. Then Tabitha followed it with a straight kick to Saito’s face.

“I should keep you as a pet.”

“Stop joking!”

“What are you talking about? Aren't you very happy? You like it, don't you? When a loli dominates you. It is written all over your face!”

“You, you!”

Saito sprang to his feet, grabbing Tabitha’s shoulder. Then the two’s gaze met. In this moment, Tabitha’s cheeks dyed red and she turned her face away. Her change made Saito’s heart leap.

“How did you manage to show a look like that?”

But Tabitha’s next attack knocked Saito beyond belief:

“ Please..”

“Please?”

“Please be gentle with me.”

Please, please be gentle?! You, you, Saito looked like an air-less goldfish with his mouth opening and closing.

[[Image:ZnT08-055.jpg|thumb]]

The next offensive completely ripped his command center open.

“Ki, Ki..”

“Ki?"

“How to kiss, teach me.”

What is she talking about? Saito was completely unable to understand.

But, it was really cute.

Because she always is expressionless, such attack surprised Saito. Yet it wasn’t unpleasant surprise. It was a so-called pleasant surprise. The surprise, joy, and the excitement somehow almost made Saito faint. No, it wasn’t ‘somehow’.

On a closer look, Tabitha had beautiful snow-white skin. Her blue eyes were like sapphires. Those blue lakes, still young, were very charming and made Saito’s heart throb. Like Louise, she had those noble, elegant features... Though he did not notice before because thought her to be too young, she was definitely beautiful…

What a heck I am thinking about - she’s still a child, he thought shaking his head.

“F-foolishness, your father will be angry on me if he would catch me kissing you!

Not flinching, Tabitha pushed her lips out.

“Onii-chan…”

Foul play! On a wind dragon, writhing in big conflict, Saito heard roaring from behind. When he turned around, he saw Zero Fighter flying.

“Wha-!”

Within the cockpit he could see Louise’s and Siesta’s faces.

“How can you control it!” He yelled.

“I learned it from the grandfather!” Siesta shouted.

He wondered how he could hear her voice through loudly roaring engine, and soon, undoubtedly, he heard Louise’s angry voice.

“Now you are going even after a child who is smaller than me! You love anyone - big or small! Either way will do! Saittei!”

Don! Don! DoDo! Zero Fighters wings trembled.

How can they shoot twenty-millimeter cannonballs though they are supposed to be out of ammo?

He thought, when a jar of wine flew at him.

“Have a drink!” came Siesta’s drunken voice.

She is drunk while piloting the airplane, Saito was terrified.

“No, better control the plane.”

He muttered, before getting hit by a jar. It hurts!

Saito shouted impatiently.

“Tabitha, avoid! Speed the wind dragon up to run away from the zero fighter!”.

“Tabitha? I am Kirche, Darling.”

Somehow Tabitha turned into Kirche. Moreover, only a few seashells were covering her most important body parts.

“Quickly get away from me! We will get killed! Flying too fast!

“It can’t fly”

“Isn’t it a wind dragon?!”

“Nope, my salamander, Flame-chan.”

Unnoticed by Saito, it was indeed Kirche’s salamander Flame.

“Whaat?!!”

Salamander went down like a rock. Saito tried to grab Derflinger. Using my Gandalfr's power, I’ll jump onto the zero fighter and save myself! He thought…

“Awa! Why doesn't my body feel lighter?!”

Looking at his left hand, he saw the runes disappear.

“Wa! Uwa! Waah!”

He steadily approached the ground.

“Falling! Falling! N? What’s this?!”

He saw something.

Light.

“…it shines. Gold?”

On the moment of the crash, dazzled, Saito was wrapped up by the golden light.

<center>* * *</center>

“Falling!”

Screamed Saito and woke up.

He was breathing heavily for a while, before muttering to himself.

“Dream…”

Fuzzy-headed, he reviewed the clattery drama.

He was chased by Siesta and Louise, and by was urged by Henrietta, Jessica, dogs and Tabitha – what an absurd hubbub and mess.

If it’s not a dream then why did Louise and Siesta wore school uniforms from Saito’s Japan or Tabitha were dressed up as stewardess. But why would I be having such dream…

“Such strong desire, I…” he writhed in embarrassment for a moment. He grew worried – what if anyone saw him now? He looked around in fear.

“Uh.”

Indeed, there was an audience.

In front of Saito’s eyes, there were faces of children watching him.

There were various faces - big and small, boys and girls. Golden hair, red hair…brunette, there were various hair colors too. Some were hesitant, embarrassed, relieved or worried watching Saito’s suspicious behavior. Though children clothes were a little dirty, their eyes sparkled.

A single boy with blond hair, leaned towards Saito and quietly looked into his face.

“Well… did you see me just now?” Saito asked, for some reason the boy jumped back in fear.

“Weird person! Suspicious person!” he ran away shouting.

“H-hey…misunderstanding, misunderstanding!”

“Freak! A type of person one should not get closer!”

Others joined in.

“Wa-wait a minute! I am not a strange person!”

However, Saito’s words of the excuse didn't reach them, all children flung out of a room in a lightening speed.

“Whawhat… they. A while ago, I was having this embarrassing dream… Anyway, where am I?”

Saito looked around the room where he was in.

It was a cozy room. One window at one side of the bed, there was a door at the other side. A small round table was placed in center of the room, two wooden chairs near it.

Though a bed that Saito slept in was coarse, it was clean. White sheets and soft blanket pulled over.

“Must be some kind of inn… But, why I am here…I mean. I was heavily injured…”

Saito in a hurry looked down at his body. The body was all covered with bandages. At that time, in a fierce battle, he was definitely driven to the point of death.

So.

I… let Louise and others leave and went against 70,000 alone. He shuddered remembering the fierce battle.

After he clashed with 70,000 army, following Derflinger’s advice he aimed at the commanders.

He attacked a fair amount of mages, but due to spell hits, he started loosing his consciousness. Starting to stagger, he saw a general surrounded by mages and knights, and leaped at him.

After that, he doesn’t have any memories…

“…Anyway, seems like I survived.”

Feeling relieved, Saito whispered in a discouraged voice.

At the same time with a relief, various doubts crept in.

Spell arrows and fireballs hit him, or was it, but there were no deep wounds. Then an explosion hit at close range, and he remembered his left-hand becoming like a charcoal. It wasn't nothing. He felt blood running out in streams from his body. There was a gaping wound in his belly. His bones were broken like sticks and his inner organs torn. In other words, he was close to death.

Yet, when you look at my body now…

The vicious burns on his left arm disappeared, the pink skin could be seen through the crevices between bandages. The body wounds did not hurt for the time being as well.

Saito looked doubtful.

What on earth happened with my body?

“Well, it’s a wizard world after all, so some miracles do happen…” showing his inborn optimism, Saito said to himself.

For now, the only thing known was that he ‘survived’, and other things did not matter all that much. Once feeling relieved, he was reminded of other things.

That’s right, there are more important concerns than my body.

My clash with army of 70,000….

Were enemy forces confused enough?

Did it won time for allies to withdraw?

Did Louise and everyone else escape safely?

“Uuuh…what’s true? Now I’ll worry. Aaah, I’ll ask Derf.”

Saito looked around, searching for Derflinger.

However, the wise sword was nowhere to be found in the room. I’ll look for him, I cannot learn anything this way, Saito thought and tried to stand up…

“Auch!”

A frog like voice leaked from his throat.

The acute cramping pain pierced through his sides, feet, arms, ankles and neck. The pain covered the whole body and did not stop made Saito’s see black and white. Though the life was saved, but he still might be badly injured.

That fierce battle that felt like a dream since he woke up, now was rapidly gaining real outlines, Saito shook. Saito started to tremble. Even though he tried to suppress it, it didn’t stop.

One wrong step and he would have been dead, he definitely escaped death by a thin line.

Until the trembling settles, he decided to lie back in bed.

“But…I may be still asleep.”

He needed to confirm it.

I want to know precisely how I was brought back to life.

Therefore, he tried to get up many times.

Tch! Autch! He shouted, whenever he tried to stand up he was instantly taken over by pain….

“You should not move.”

From the door where children ran to… a smooth smell flowed and a coolly sweet voice sounded.

Ah, when he turned towards open door, he saw a girl, with fair, river-like flowing hair, standing.

----

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| [[Zero_no_Tsukaima:Volume8_Chapter1|Back to Chapter 1]]
| [[Zero_no_Tsukaima|Return to Main Page]]
| [[Zero_no_Tsukaima:Volume8_Chapter3|Forward to Chapter 3]]
|-
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Zero no Tsukaima:Volume8 Chapter2 - MTL

2008-10-17T03:46:50Z

24.255.161.148: /* Chapter Two: Saito's Morning */

===Chapter Two: Saito's Morning===

RING RING RING RING RING RING!...The alarm clock rang, and Saito opened his sleepy eyes.

He slowly climbed out of his bed.

This is Earth’s Japan, Tokyo and his own family’s two story six rooms home. In his own bedroom. In an instant, he had a strange feeling, a kind of feeling that is difficult to explain.

It was his bedroom! But why was there an sense of unease?

Still half a sleep and half awake, Saito looked at the cat-like alarm clock: 8:30AM. The sense of unease was melted away, and he screamed, “CRAP!” and flipped out of the bed.

Isn’t this time almost late?

Saito leaped down the stairs and reached the first floor, then screamed at his mother who was washing dishes in the kitchen.

“Mother! Why didn’t you wake me?”

“Don’t I always tell you, you have to get up on your own in the morning?”

In that instant, an overwhelming sense of homesickness nearly ran him over.

Looking at his mother’s back, Saito had a sense of someone seeing a loved one long lost, although he saw his mother’s shadow everyday, why was there such an overwhelming sense?

But now is not the time to worry about it, he was almost late for school. Saito flew into the living room, put on the school uniform he left there, and then ran back to the kitchen with mother: “I'm already late, gotta go mom!” grabbing a piece of toast from the kitchen table, then stuffing it into his mouth like a mouse, swallowing as he dashed out the door.

Ou of the house and straight into the residential streets.

Saito suddenly froze on the spot.

Mother often complained about the house across the streets and its terrible red walls.
Saito took the time to “borrow” a couple fruits from neighbor’s date tree. And the ground near a nearby tree lamp has a vending machine for fruit juice.

The usual and normal scene. Although it is an scene he is used to, but there was an overwhelming sense of longing, that made everything feel dearer.

This is third time today he felt this strange.

Saito stood there dumbfounded, unable to come up with a reason for this.

In that moment, someone called out to him from behind.

“Saito-san!”

Saito turned around, only to find a black haired girl in his school's uniform standing there.

“Siesta!”

There was no mistake, it was really siesta.

Used to be a maid in the Tristan Magical Academy, yet now stood there wearing a school uniform.

Sieasta wore the western clothes Saito saw before, giving her a fresh sense of cuteness. Along with the mini-skirt worn by other students, blue western blouse with an white shirt, along with knee length socks.

What would be Siesta doing in Tokyo?

Why is she wearing his school’s uniform?

Although he still had some difficult to explain questions, but let’s take care of the first question that comes to mind. “Why are you dressed like this?”

Siesta answered Saito's question with a confused look.

“Because Saito-san and I go to the same school, isn’t it normal I wear the same uniform?”

Oh, it is so. Saito nodded in understanding. The way she said it seemed to be correct, but right now Saito’s head was a little fuzzy, so he couldn’t really pinpoint what was wrong.

Siesta ran by, grabbing on to Saito’s arm.

“Wait wait wait wait…”

Siesta’s face turned red, unable to finish her sentence.

“I have been waiting for you for a while…I want to go to school together….so..”

“Oh, is that so? Ok, let’s go together.”

Forget it, she is so cute, going together shouldn’t be a problem. Saito dismissed the question that came floating into his head.

“Great!” Siesta said smiling and took a step forward. The spring wind flew against her body.

“Oh!” The strong wind lifted her short skirt.

The skirt revealed snow-white flesh, causing Saito to pinch his nose in reflex.

“Why, Siesta, why are you not wearing any underwear?”

Siesta using her hands to hold down her skirt, shamefully replied,

“Because, because I am not one of those noble born girls, who own those flowery panties…”

“Japan doesn’t have any of those nobilities!”

“That is true…”

That is a really strange answer, Saito thought, feeling the incompatibility.

It seems everything makes sense, yet it feels nothing does…

Just as the two stood there dumbfounded…

Saito was sent flying by a force slamming behind him, and instantly collapsed on the ground in front of him.

The person who knocked him down was a peach haired girl. She also had a piece of bread in her mouth and complained at the same time,

“Late, late, I am late!”

The young girl continues her complaints then turned around, stomping Saito several more times with her foot.

“You! You!”

Saito desperately tried to get up.

“Ah, late, really late!!”

The young girl swang her foot again, this time aiming for Saito’s face; Saito collapsed again with a yelp.

“Miss La Valliere!”

Siesta yelled.

“Ah….late, I said we are late!”

The girl that is called La Valliere continued to scream "late", yet at the same time dance on Saito’s fallen body.

Saito lying on the ground, shouted loudly, “If you know you are late, then stop dancing on my body!”

With that shout, the tiny peach haired girl stopped. With her arms around her chest, she stared at Saito and asked,

“Where were you staring at? Your face is red!” There was a sense of unease in her voice as she asked.

This young lady wore the same style of uniform as Siesta’s - Saito’s school uniform. But the way she wore it was different. She kept her tux’s buttons left open, and kept the tie loose, which made her appear to be very loose. But that peach hair and tea colored eyes were indeed Louise.

“Why are you wearing your clothes like that?”

But Louise didn’t even appear to notice Saito’s question.

“Where were you looking at? Speak!”

“It has nothing to do with you!” Just as Saito finished, he was rewarded with Louise’s foot in his face.

“Of course it has to do with me! You are my familiar, So no matter what happens you are only allowed to look at me! If you look at other people, I will teach you a lesson!”

Louise angrily stared at Siesta.

“So, so, so when you go stare at the big breasted maid, then it means serious punishment! Do you understand?”

“What are you joking about?” Saito yelled. He jumped up and grabbed Louise’s shoulder.

“Eh…” Louise yelped sharply as she collapsed on the ground, and Saito landed on top of her, his eyes transfixed on her face.

“You, what are you doing? …you, you plan to attack your master?”

“Correct.”

“Don’t you dare doing anything! I am a noble, you are a commoner!”

“Noble princesses wouldn’t dress like this!”

Yelled Saito pointing at Louise’s loose socks.

“What, what’s the matter? What I wear is my own business! You are only a familiar, mind your own business!”

“What familiar? What nobility? What Master? It is not same here! Because we are in Japan!”

“Don’t talk nonsense!” Louise yelled raging. Saito restrained raging Louise and looked into her burning eyes.

“You… wanted this to happen, right?”

Though words came from his mouth, they did not seem to be his. Even though he talked… it felt as if he was watching a movie about other characters.

“…Eh?”

“You wanted to be pushed down by me, didn’t you? That’s why you wore that black cat costume. For me to push you down. Right? Speak up. Heeey, speak up!”

These words have been said some time ago, Saito thought strangely calmly, while shouting.

Then the girl's cheeks dyed pink, like the color of her hair. She turned her head and looked the other way.

“D-don’t be s-silly. Who wanted to be pushed down? S-stop joking, let me go in this instant or I’ll kick you.”

“Then kick.”

Hearing such strong words, Louise bit her lip.

“D-don’t anger me….” She said in a feeble voice.

“Well then, itadakimasu.” He nodded seriously and started unfasten the shirt at her knolls. I did this before, he thought. Then his head was hit with the frying-pan by Siesta who stood behind.

“Auch!”

“This is a middle of the road. It’s embarrassing, please stop.”

“Frying-pan, where…”

“I carry it to cook.”

“Butt out!” Louise screamed rudely at Siesta. Siesta turned to Louise.

“Why are you so mad, even though I helped you? That all these words about ‘anger’ must be a lie. It’s not your real intention. You wanted to be pushed down after all.“

“L-lies! Maid should be silent and do the laundry!”

“I would do the laundry if you would lend me the washboard.”

“Haah? I don’t have a washboard!”

“Not true. You have a splendid one over there.”

She pointed at Louise’s chest. Louise let out a penetrating scream.

“Keeeeeeeeeeee!”

“Wash with plain chest♪ With bubbles wash♪ Scrub scrub scrub♪”

Louise jumped at singing Siesta.

“Whaaat! Big breasts are all that you have maid! Flirting with men is all that you think about! Not even wearing underwear!”

“Aren’t you the same! You always think how to get laid! Wearing next to nothing! Ridiculous noble! Always eagerly awaiting with shiny eyes to be pushed down by Saito-san! Don’t you have any shame?!”

What! Undeveloped! Stupid maid! The quarreled turned into grapple show between the two. Skirts fluttering, claws spread, gripping each others hair, they were rolling on the ground like two raging chickens.

“S-stop…” though Saito muttered, the pair were not listening at all.

Then...The black limousine drove up.

The door at the drivers side opened and Mazarini, dressed up in white gloves and black suit, stepped out. When Mazarini opened the door at the back seat, he bowed reverently.

Henrietta dressed in a white dress showed up from inside. She wore a brimless hat decorated with flowers. Her dress reminded more of a young lade rather than princess. She held an elegant handbag at her side.

Henrietta ran up to Saito and offered her hand.

“You stopped an army of 70,000.”

“Yes.” Saito replied boldly.

“You were truly unstoppable. Aaah, you are a savior of Tristain. Though this useless queen cannot do anything, I can’t leave such loyalty unrewarded. Well, kiss this hand.”

Saito took the hand and pressed his lips, next, Henrietta wrapped her arms around Saito’s neck.

“P-Princess?”

“Call me Ann. Next, on the lips, for compassion.”

Flustered Henrietta embraced Saito's head closely and puckered up her lips.

Not good, Saito thought and in an instant heard growls.

“What are you doing to Princess-sama!”

“Always nobles! You always prefer them! It’s impossible for a village girl to be noticed!”

Saito knowing very well what it means to become Louise’s and Siesta’s target, quickly shook off Henrietta’s arms and ran off.

“Wait! Let’s continue the evening in cheap hotel!”

Henrietta shouted.

“What continuation in cheap hotel?! What!”

“What did you do in there! Surely you wore weird clothes again!”

Siesta and Louise ran after him shouting.

While he was trying to escape, an American Bike appeared out of the corner. Scarron and Jessica were sitting on it, all dressed up in tight leather clothes.

Saito leaped over the pair’s motorcycle and fell.

Jessica jumped out of the bikes hull and looked down at sprawled Saito.

“Stop being useless. Quickly, help me to sell this oil."

“Y-you…”

“Ara? Not energetic? Then how about this to rise your motivation?”

She threw him a mischievous glance and through the crevice of her leather jacket led Saito’s hand into the valley of her well-developed bosom.

Now he was in a trouble.

“W-wait a second!”

“Wait for what?” Jessica said in an amorous voice that tickles man’s heart, and watched him through sparkling eyes.

“You are a girl right? So don’t act this…”

But Jessica’s eyes made Saito hold his breath…

“That Brunet again!”

“My cousin! What the!”

Saito left Jessica and began to run again. He escaped to the Main Street and while elbowing his way through the crowd he knocked against someone.

“S-sorry.”

He knocked against a woman with long pink hair. She wore a thin purple cardigan and was holding a leash to which many dogs were connected.

Bark. Bark bark. Bark bark bark.

The dogs drew closer to Saito.

“Dog! Many dogs! Good doggies! Uwaa! Waawaa!”

“Ara ara, they seem to like you a lot.”

He knew that woman by sight. She was part of Louise’s family.

This gentle aura around this woman with long pink hair.

She pressed her hand to her mouth, trying to suppress a giggle. This woman was Cattleya, Louise’s elder sister. Catlleya’s dogs nuzzled against Saito.

“Ah! Hey! Stop! Stop it!”

Sniff sniff, bark bark, sniff sniff, bark bark.

“Whaaa! Now between dogs! Don’t you match well! Adorable! What! What are you doing to big sister!”

Louise ran up shouting.

“Even with dogs! I can’t allow it!”

Siesta shouted.

Both had a terrible look on their faces. If he would be caught by those two, his life would be in danger. But because of the leaning dogs he could not do anything.

“You perverted dog!”

The moment when Louise shouted jumping at him… Saito was lifted in the air

“F-flying?”

Saito looked up, and found himself caught by a Wind Dragon. Sitting on the Drake was a blue haired girl, it turned out to be Tabitha and her familiar, Sylphid, the familiar Sylphid was carrying Saito on its back.

Not understanding why, Tabitha was wearing an airplane stewardess outfit. A young girl like Tabitha wearing a stewardess dress, appears very, very strange. Like a gag in a story.

Even though Tabitha was dressed like this she still remained focused on her book.

“What, what the..Oh, it is you… never mind, thank you for saving me.”

Saito expressed his gratitude feeling massive relief.

But Tabitha remained the same as a ever, without making a sound.

Saito remained silent for a moment too, but everything became even more awkward, so he decided to find a topic to chat about, and finally saw Tabitha’s book.

“You know I always wondered…what kind of books are you always reading?”

Tabitha refused to answer.

Without any other method, Saito decided to go behind her and peek at the book. When he saw the title, he could not stop laughing: “Ah? Romance Technique-How to make boys like you…you…is this kind of book?? Ahahahaha! You have this kind of interest?”

Tabitha, without replying, continued to leaf through the book. Her eyes did not reveal a sliver of emotion, so it was impossible to tell if she was mad or embarrassed.

“That kind of thing, no matter how many books you read, is useless. First you have to learn how to talk to a boy. Because the purpose of your heart is important.” Saito appeared to be very knowledgeable about the matter and added: “No matter what, a person like you who never talks, is an impossible situation.”

Saito lightly patted Tabitha’s head, and Tabitha just nodded her head toward his hand.

“Right, use me as an model, let’s practice talking”

The blue haired girl silently stared at Saito’s face. No matter how hard he tried, nothing was coming out of Tabitha’s mouth.

“Hey, what are you planning? If it is like this you will never find a boyfriend! Come, Come on! You should know more words than spells, come on! Say something!”

He remained half joking, shaking the little girl’s head left and right. In that moment, Tabitha stood up.

“I know it.”

“Oh?”

Tabitha remained expressionless, but like a machine-gun she spat out a string of words:

“Can’t find an boyfriend? Mind your business! Stuck between the maid and the boob-less mage you have no rights to talk about me. Someone like you, all you need to see is the princess, the village girl or elder sister with big breasts and you instantly have that “look”, really a mess. Then you will say ‘no no, I can’t do this kind of thing, because I am from another world, so I cannot support your feelings.’ But while you talk, your body doesn’t react the same way”

“You, You” Saito’s head became red as a tomato.

“A person like you would seriously annoy them both, you make them want to come after you with violence.”

Saito looked at Tabitha’s height and replied, “You, you little chibi, don’t talk so spirited like that.”

The girl’s body is a head shorter than Louise, But Tabitha’s expression remained unchanged, and added, “Who is a chibi? You are the real chibi! A brainless person like you who try to step into two ships with one foot, you are ten years to early!”

"Gya!"

Saito suddenly curled into a ball aboard the Wind Dragon. Because he apparently was kicked between groins by Tabitha. Then Tabitha followed it with a straight kick in Saito’s face.

“I should keep you as a pet.”

“Stop joking!”

“What are you talking about? Aren't you very happy? You like it, don't you? When a loli dominates you. It is written all over your face!”

“You, you!”

Saito sprang to his feet, grabbing Tabitha’s shoulder. Then the two’s gaze met. In this moment, Tabitha’s cheeks dyed red and she turned her face away. Her change made Saito’s heart leap.

“How did you manage to show a look like that?”

But Tabitha’s next attack knocked Saito beyond belief:

“ Please..”

“Please?”

“Please be gentle with me.”

Please, please be gentle?! You, you, Saito looked like an air-less goldfish with his mouth opening and closing.

[[Image:ZnT08-055.jpg|thumb]]

The next offensive completely ripped his command center open.

“Ki, Ki..”

“Ki?"

“How to kiss, teach me”

What is she talking about? Saito was completely unable to understand.

But, it was really cute.

Because she always is expressionless, such attack surprised Saito. Yet it wasn’t unpleasant surprise. It was a so-called pleasant surprise. The surprise, joy, and the excitement somehow almost made Saito feint. No, it wasn’t ‘somehow’.

On a closer look, Tabitha had a beautiful snow-white skin. Her blue eyes were like sapphires. Those blue lakes, still young, were very charming and made Saito’s heart throb. Like Louise she had those noble, elegant features... Though he did not notice before because thought her to be too young, she was definitely beautiful…

What a heck I am thinking about - she’s still a child, he thought shaking his head.

“F-foolishness, your father will be angry on me if he would catch me kissing you!

Not flinching, Tabitha pushed her lips out.

“Onii-chan…”

Foul play! On a wind dragon, writhing in big conflict Saito heard roaring from behind. When he turned around, he saw Zero Fighter flying.

“Wha-!”

Within the cockpit he could see Louise’s and Siesta’s faces.

“How can you control it!” He yelled.

“I learned it from the grandfather!” Siesta shouted.

He wondered how he could hear her voice through loudly roaring engine, and soon, undoubtedly, he heard Louise’s angry voice.

“Now you are going even after a child who is smaller than me! You love anyone - big or small! Either way will do! Saittei!”

Don! Don! DoDo! Zero Fighters wings trembled.

How can they shoot twenty-millimeter cannonballs though they are supposed to be out of ammo?

He though, when a jar of wine flew at him.

“Have a drink!” came Siesta’s drunken voice.

She is drunk while piloting the airplane, Saito was terrified.

“No, better control the plane.”

He muttered, before getting hit by a jar. It hurts!

Saito shouted impatiently.

“Tabitha, avoid! Speed the wind dragon up to run away from the zero fighter!”.

“Tabitha? I am Kirche, Darling.”

Somehow Tabitha turned into Kirche. Moreover, only a few seashells were covering her most important body parts.

“Quickly get away from me! We will get killed! Flying too fast!

“It can’t fly”

“Isn’t it a wind dragon?!”

“Nope, my salamander, Flame-chan.”

Unnoticed by Saito, it was indeed Kirche’s salamander Flame.

“Whaat?!!”

Salamander went down like a rock. Saito tried to grab Derflinger. Using my Gandalfr's power I’ll jump onto the zero fighter and save myself! he thought…

“Awa! Why doenst my bode feel lighter!”

Looking at the left hand he saw runes disappear.

“Wa! Uwa! Waah!”

He steadily approached the ground.

“Falling! Falling! N? What’s this?!”

He saw something.

Light.

“…it shines. Gold?”

On the moment of the crash, dazzled Saito, was wrapped up by the golden light.

<center>* * *</center>

“Falling!”

Screamed Saito and woke up.

He was breathing heavily for a while, before muttering to himself.

“Dream…”

Fuzzy-headed, he reviewed the clattery drama.

He was chased by Siesta and Louise, and by was urged by Henrietta, Jessica, dogs and Tabitha – what an absurd hubbub and mess.

If it’s not a dream then why Louise and Siesta wore school uniforms from Saito’s Japan or Tabitha were dressed up as stewardess. But why would I be having such dream…

“Such strong desire, I…” he writhed in embarrassment for a moment. He grew worried – what if anyone saw him now? He looked around in fear.

“Uh.”

Indeed, there was an audience.

In front of Saito’s eyes there were faces of children watching him.

There were various faces - big and small, boys and girls. Golden hair, red hair…brunette, there were various hair colors too. Some were hesitant, embarrassed, relieved or worried watching Saito’s suspicious behavior. Though children clothes were a little dirty, their eyes sparkled.

Single boy with blond hair, leaned towards Saito and quietly looked into his face.

“Well… did you just saw me now?” Saito asked, for some reason boy jumped back in fear.

“Weird person! Suspicious person!” he ran away shouting.

“H-hey…misunderstanding, misunderstanding!”

“Freak! A type of person one should not get closer!”

Other joined in.

“Wa-wait a minute! I am not a strange person!”

However, Saito’s words of the excuse didn't reach them, all children flung out of a room in a lightening speed.

“Whawhat… they. A while ago I was having this embarrassing dream… Anyway, where am I?”

Saito looked around the room where he was in.

It was a cozy room. One window at one side of the bed, there was a door at the other side. A small round table was placed in center of the room, two wooden chairs near it.

Though a bed that Saito slept in was coarse it was clean. White sheets and soft blanket pulled over.

“Must be some kind of inn… But, why I am here…I mean. I was heavily injured…”

Saito in a hurry looked down at his body. The body was all covered with bandages. At that time, in a fierce battle, he was definitely driven to the point of death.

So.

I… let Louise and other leave and went against 70,000 alone. He shuddered remembering the fierce battle.

After he clashed with 70,000 army, following Derflinger’s advice he aimed at the commanders.

He attacked a fair amount of mages, but due to spell hits he started loosing his consciousness. Becoming staggering, he saw a general surrounded by mages and knights, and leaped at him.

After that he doesn’t have memories…

“…Anyway, seems like I survived.”

Feeling relieved, Saito whispered in a discouraged voice.

At the same time with a relief various doubts crept in.

Spell arrows and fireballs hit him, or was it, but there were no deep wounds. Then an explosion hit at close range, and he remembered his left-hand becoming like a charcoal. It wasn‘t nothing. He felt blood running out in streams from his body. There was a gaping wound in his belly. His bones were broken like sticks and his inner organs torn. In other words he was close to death.

Yet, when you look at my body now…

The vicious burns on his left arm disappeared, the pink skin could be seen through the crevices between bandages. The body wounds did not hurt for the time being as well.

Saito looked doubtful.

What on earth happened with my body?

“Well, it’s a wizard world after all, so some miracles do happen…” showing his inborn optimism, Saito said to himself.

For now, the only thing known was that he ‘survived’, and other things did not matter all that much. Once feeling relieved he was reminded of other things.

That’s right, there are more important concerns than my body.

My clash with army of 70,000….

Were enemy forces confused enough?

Did it won time for allies to withdraw?

Did Louise and everyone else escaped safely?

“Uuuh…what’s true? Now I’ll worry. Aaah, I’ll ask Derf.”

Saito looked around, searching for Derflinger.

However, the wise sword was nowhere to be found in the room. I’ll look for him, I cannot learn anything this way, Saito thought and tried to stand up…

“Auch!”

A frog like voice leaked from his throat.

The acute cramping pain pierced through his sides, feet, arms, ankles and neck. The pain covered the whole body and did not stop made Saito’s see black and white. Though the life was saved, but he still might be badly injured.

That fierce battle that felt like a dream since he woke up, now was rapidly gaining real outlines, Saito shook. Saito started to tremble. Even though he tried to suppress it, it didn’t stop.

One wrong step and he would have been dead, he definitely escaped death by a thin line.

Until the trembling settles, he decided to lie back in bed.

“But…I may be still asleep.”

He needed to confirm it.

I want to know precisely how I was brought back to life.

Therefore, he tried to get up many times.

Tch! Autch! He shouted, whenever he tried to stand up he was instantly taken over by pain….

“You should not move.”

From the door where children ran to… a smooth smell flowed and a coolly sweet voice sounded.

Ah, when he turned towards open door, he saw a girl, with fair, river-like flowing hair, standing.

----

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| [[Zero_no_Tsukaima:Volume8_Chapter1|Back to Chapter 1]]
| [[Zero_no_Tsukaima|Return to Main Page]]
| [[Zero_no_Tsukaima:Volume8_Chapter3|Forward to Chapter 3]]
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Zero no Tsukaima:Volume8 Chapter2 - MTL

2008-10-17T03:41:52Z

24.255.161.148: /* Chapter Two: Saito's Morning */

===Chapter Two: Saito's Morning===

RING RING RING RING RING RING!...The alarm clock rang, and Saito opened his sleepy eyes.

He slowly climbed out of his bed.

This is Earth’s Japan, Tokyo and his own family’s two story six rooms home. In his own bedroom. In an instant, he had a strange feeling, a kind of feeling that is difficult to explain.

It was his bedroom! But why was there an sense of unease?

Still half a sleep and half awake, Saito looked at the cat-like alarm clock: 8:30AM. The sense of unease was melted away, and he screamed, “CRAP!” and flipped out of the bed.

Isn’t this time almost late?

Saito leaped down the stairs and reached the first floor, then screamed at his mother who was washing dishes in the kitchen.

“Mother! Why didn’t you wake me?”

“Don’t I always tell you, you have to get up on your own in the morning?”

In that instant, an overwhelming sense of homesickness nearly ran him over.

Looking at his mother’s back, Saito had a sense of someone seeing a loved one long lost, although he saw his mother’s shadow everyday, why was there such an overwhelming sense?

But now is not the time to worry about it, he was almost late for school. Saito flew into the living room, put on the school uniform he left there, and then ran back to the kitchen with mother: “I'm already late, gotta go mom!” grabbing a piece of toast from the kitchen table, then stuffing it into his mouth like a mouse, swallowing as he dashed out the door.

Ou of the house and straight into the residential streets.

Saito suddenly froze on the spot.

Mother often complained about the house across the streets and its terrible red walls.
Saito took the time to “borrow” a couple fruits from neighbor’s date tree. And the ground near a nearby tree lamp has a vending machine for fruit juice.

The usual and normal scene. Although it is an scene he is used to, but there was an overwhelming sense of longing, that made everything feel dearer.

This is third time today he felt this strange.

Saito stood there dumbfounded, unable to come up with a reason for this.

In that moment, someone called out to him from behind.

“Saito-san!”

Saito turned around, only to find a black haired girl in his school's uniform standing there.

“Siesta!”

There was no mistake, it was really siesta.

Used to be a maid in the Tristan Magical Academy, yet now stood there wearing a school uniform.

Sieasta wore the western clothes Saito saw before, giving her a fresh sense of cuteness. Along with the mini-skirt worn by other students, blue western blouse with an white shirt, along with knee length socks.

What would be Siesta doing in Tokyo?

Why is she wearing his school’s uniform?

Although he still had some difficult to explain questions, but let’s take care of the first question that comes to mind. “Why are you dressed like this?”

Siesta answered Saito's question with a confused look.

“Because Saito-san and I go to the same school, isn’t it normal I wear the same uniform?”

Oh, it is so. Saito nodded in understanding. The way she said it seemed to be correct, but right now Saito’s head was a little fuzzy, so he couldn’t really pinpoint what was wrong.

Siesta ran by, grabbing on to Saito’s arm.

“Wait wait wait wait…”

Siesta’s face turned red, unable to finish her sentence.

“I have been waiting for you for a while…I want to go to school together….so..”

“Oh, is that so? Ok, let’s go together.”

Forget it, she is so cute, going together shouldn’t be a problem. Saito dismissed the question that came floating into his head.

“Great!” Siesta said smiling and took a step forward. The spring wind flew against her body.

“Oh!” The strong wind lifted her short skirt.

The skirt revealed snow-white flesh, causing Saito to pinch his nose in reflex.

“Why, Siesta, why are you not wearing any underwear?”

Siesta using her hands to hold down her skirt, shamefully replied,

“Because, because I am not one of those noble born girls, who own those flowery panties…”

“Japan doesn’t have any of those nobilities!”

“That is true…”

That is a really strange answer, Saito thought, feeling the incompatibility.

It seems everything makes sense, yet it feels nothing does…

Just as the two stood there dumbfounded…

Saito was sent flying by a force slamming behind him, and instantly collapsed on the ground in front of him.

The person who knocked him down was a peach haired girl. She also had a piece of bread in her mouth and complained at the same time,

“Late, late, I am late!”

The young girl continues her complaints then turned around, stomping Saito several more times with her foot.

“You! You!”

Saito desperately tried to get up.

“Ah, late, really late!!”

The young girl swang her foot again, this time aiming for Saito’s face; Saito collapsed again with a yelp.

“Miss La Valliere!”

Siesta yelled.

“Ah….late, I said we are late!”

The girl that is called La Valliere continued to scream "late", yet at the same time dance on Saito’s fallen body.

Saito lying on the ground, shouted loudly, “If you know you are late, then stop dancing on my body!”

With that shout, the tiny peach haired girl stopped. With her arms around her chest, she stared at Saito and asked,

“Where were you staring at? Your face is red!” There was a sense of unease in her voice as she asked.

This young lady wore the same style of uniform as Siesta’s - Saito’s school uniform. But the way she wore it was different. She kept her tux’s buttons left open, and kept the tie loose, which made her appear to be very loose. But that peach hair and tea colored eyes were indeed Louise.

“Why are you wearing your clothes like that?”

But Louise didn’t even appear to notice Saito’s question.

“Where were you looking at? Speak!”

“It has nothing to do with you!” Just as Saito finished, he was rewarded with Louise’s foot in his face.

“Of course it has to do with me! You are my familiar, So no matter what happens you are only allowed to look at me! If you look at other people, I will teach you a lesson!”

Louise angrily stared at Siesta.

“So, so, so when you go stare at the big breasted maid, then it means serious punishment! Do you understand?”

“What are you joking about?” Saito yelled. He jumped up and grabbed Louise’s shoulder.

“Eh…” Louise yelped sharply as she collapsed on the ground, and Saito landed on top of her, his eyes transfixed on her face.

“You, what are you doing? …you, you plan to attack your master?”

“Correct.”

“Don’t you dare doing anything! I am a noble, you are a commoner!”

“Noble princesses wouldn’t dress like this!”

Yelled Saito pointing at Louise’s loose socks.

“What, what’s the matter? What I wear is my own business! You are only a familiar, mind your own business!”

“What familiar? What nobility? What Master? It is not same here! Because we are in Japan!”

“Don’t talk nonsense!” Louise yelled raging. Saito restrained raging Louise and looked into her burning eyes.

“You… wanted this to happen, right?”

Though words came from his mouth, they did not seem to be his. Even though he talked… it felt as if he was watching a movie about other characters.

“…Eh?”

“You wanted to be pushed down by me, didn’t you? That’s why you wore that black cat costume. For me to push you down. Right? Speak up. Heeey, speak up!”

These words have been said some time ago, Saito thought strangely calmly, while shouting.

Then the girl's cheeks dyed pink, like the color of her hair. She turned her head and looked the other way.

“D-don’t be s-silly. Who wanted to be pushed down? S-stop joking, let me go in this instant or I’ll kick you.”

“Then kick.”

Hearing such strong words, Louise bit her lip.

“D-don’t anger me….” She said in a feeble voice.

“Well then, itadakimasu.” He nodded seriously and started unfasten the shirt at her knolls. I did this before, he thought. Then his head was hit with the frying-pan by Siesta who stood behind.

“Auch!”

“This is a middle of the road. It’s embarrassing, please stop.”

“Frying-pan, where…”

“I carry it to cook.”

“Butt out!” Louise screamed rudely at Siesta. Siesta turned to Louise.

“Why are you so mad, even though I helped you? That all these words about ‘anger’ must be a lie. It’s not your real intention. You wanted to be pushed down after all.“

“L-lies! Maid should be silent and do the laundry!”

“I would do the laundry if you would lend me the washboard.”

“Haah? I don’t have a washboard!”

“Not true. You have a splendid one over there.”

She pointed at Louise’s chest. Louise let out a penetrating scream.

“Keeeeeeeeeeee!”

“Wash with plain chest♪ With bubbles wash♪ Scrub scrub scrub♪”

Louise jumped at singing Siesta.

“Whaaat! Big breasts are all that you have maid! Flirting with men is all that you think about! Not even wearing underwear!”

“Aren’t you the same! You always think how to get laid! Wearing next to nothing! Ridiculous noble! Always eagerly awaiting with shiny eyes to be pushed down by Saito-san! Don’t you have any shame?!”

What! Undeveloped! Stupid maid! The quarreled turned into grapple show between the two. Skirts fluttering, claws spread, gripping each others hair, they were rolling on the ground like two raging chickens.

“S-stop…” though Saito muttered, the pair were not listening at all.

Then...The black limousine drove up.

The door at the drivers side opened and Mazarini, dressed up in white gloves and black suit, stepped out. When Mazarini opened the door at the back seat, he bowed reverently.

Henrietta dressed in a white dress showed up from inside. She wore a brimless hat decorated with flowers. Her dress reminded more of a young lade rather than princess. She held an elegant handbag at her side.

Henrietta ran up to Saito and offered her hand.

“You stopped an army of 70,000.”

“Yes.” Saito replied boldly.

“You were truly unstoppable. Aaah, you are a savior of Tristain. Though this useless queen cannot do anything, I can’t leave such loyalty unrewarded. Well, kiss this hand.”

Saito took the hand and pressed his lips, next, Henrietta wrapped her arms around Saito’s neck.

“P-Princess?”

“Call me Ann. Next, on the lips, for compassion.”

Flustered Henrietta embraced Saito's head closely and puckered up her lips.

Not good, Saito thought and in an instant heard growls.

“What are you doing to Princess-sama!”

“Always nobles! You always prefer them! It’s impossible for a village girl to be noticed!”

Saito knowing very well what it means to become Louise’s and Siesta’s target, quickly shook off Henrietta’s arms and ran off.

“Wait! Let’s continue the evening in cheap hotel!”

Henrietta shouted.

“What continuation in cheap hotel?! What!”

“What did you do in there! Surely you wore weird clothes again!”

Siesta and Louise ran after him shouting.

While he was trying to escape, an American Bike appeared out of the corner. Scarron and Jessica were sitting on it, all dressed up in tight leather clothes.

Saito leaped over the pair’s motorcycle and fell.

Jessica jumped out of the bikes hull and looked down at sprawled Saito.

“Stop being useless. Quickly, help me to sell this oil."

“Y-you…”

“Ara? Not energetic? Then how about this to rise your motivation?”

She threw him a mischievous glance and through the crevice of her leather jacket led Saito’s hand into the valley of her well-developed bosom.

Now he was in a trouble.

“W-wait a second!”

“Wait for what?” Jessica said in an amorous voice that tickles man’s heart, and watched him through sparkling eyes.

“You are a girl right? So don’t act this…”

But Jessica’s eyes made Saito hold his breath…

“That Brunet again!”

“My cousin! What the!”

Saito left Jessica and began to run again. He escaped to the Main Street and while elbowing his way through the crowd he knocked against someone.

“S-sorry.”

He knocked against a woman with long pink hair. She wore a thin purple cardigan and was holding a leash to witch many dogs very connected.

Bark. Bark bark. Bark bark bark.

Dogs drew closer to Saito.

“Dog! Many dogs! Good doggies! Uwaa! Waawaa!”

“Ara ara, they seem to like you a lot.”

He knew that woman by sight. She was part of Louise’s family.

This gentle aura around this woman with long pink hair.

She pressed her hand to the mouth, trying to suppress a giggle. This woman was Cattleya, Louise’s elder sister. Catlleya’s dogs nuzzled against Saito.

“Ah! Hey! Stop! Stop it!”

Sniff sniff, bark bark, sniff sniff, bark bark.

“Whaaa! Now between dogs! Don’t you match well! Adorable! What! What are you doing to big sister!”

Louise ran up shouting.

“Even with dogs! I can’t allow it!”

Siesta shouted.

Both had a terrible look on their faces. If he would be caught by those two, his life would be in danger. But because of the leaning dogs he could not do anything.

“You perverted dog!”

The moment when Louise shouted jumping at him… Saito was lifted in the air

“F-flying?”

Saito looked up, and found himself caught by a Wind Dragon. Sitting on the Drake was a blue haired girl, it turned out to be Tabitha and her familiar, Sylphid, the familiar Sylphid was carrying Saito on its back.

Not understanding why, Tabitha was wearing an airplane stewardess outfit. A young girl like Tabitha wearing a stewardess dress, appears very, very strange. Like a gag in a story.

Even though Tabitha was dressed like this she still remained focused on her book.

“What, what the..Oh, it is you… never mind, thank you for saving me.”

Saito expressed his gratitude feeling massive relief.

But Tabitha remained the same as a ever, without making a sound.

Saito remained silent for a moment too, but everything became even more awkward, so he decided to find a topic to chat about, and finally saw Tabitha’s book.

“You know I always wondered…what kind of books are you always reading?”

Tabitha refused to answer.

Without any other method, Saito decided to go behind her and peek at the book. When he saw the title, he could not stop laughing: “Ah? Romance Technique-How to make boys like you…you…is this kind of book?? Ahahahaha! You have this kind of interest?”

Tabitha, without replying, continued to leaf through the book. Her eyes did not reveal a sliver of emotion, so it was impossible to tell if she was mad or embarrassed.

“That kind of thing, no matter how many books you read, is useless. First you have to learn how to talk to a boy. Because the purpose of your heart is important.” Saito appeared to be very knowledgeable about the matter and added: “No matter what, a person like you who never talks, is an impossible situation.”

Saito lightly patted Tabitha’s head, and Tabitha just nodded her head toward his hand.

“Right, use me as an model, let’s practice talking”

The blue haired girl silently stared at Saito’s face. No matter how hard he tried, nothing was coming out of Tabitha’s mouth.

“Hey, what are you planning? If it is like this you will never find a boyfriend! Come, Come on! You should know more words than spells, come on! Say something!”

He remained half joking, shaking the little girl’s head left and right. In that moment, Tabitha stood up.

“I know it.”

“Oh?”

Tabitha remained expressionless, but like a machine-gun she spat out a string of words:

“Can’t find an boyfriend? Mind your business! Stuck between the maid and the boob-less mage you have no rights to talk about me. Someone like you, all you need to see is the princess, the village girl or elder sister with big breasts and you instantly have that “look”, really a mess. Then you will say ‘no no, I can’t do this kind of thing, because I am from another world, so I cannot support your feelings.’ But while you talk, your body doesn’t react the same way”

“You, You” Saito’s head became red as a tomato.

“A person like you would seriously annoy them both, you make them want to come after you with violence.”

Saito looked at Tabitha’s height and replied, “You, you little chibi, don’t talk so spirited like that.”

The girl’s body is a head shorter than Louise, But Tabitha’s expression remained unchanged, and added, “Who is a chibi? You are the real chibi! A brainless person like you who try to step into two ships with one foot, you are ten years to early!”

"Gya!"

Saito suddenly curled into a ball aboard the Wind Dragon. Because he apparently was kicked between groins by Tabitha. Then Tabitha followed it with a straight kick in Saito’s face.

“I should keep you as a pet.”

“Stop joking!”

“What are you talking about? Aren't you very happy? You like it, don't you? When a loli dominates you. It is written all over your face!”

“You, you!”

Saito sprang to his feet, grabbing Tabitha’s shoulder. Then the two’s gaze met. In this moment, Tabitha’s cheeks dyed red and she turned her face away. Her change made Saito’s heart leap.

“How did you manage to show a look like that?”

But Tabitha’s next attack knocked Saito beyond belief:

“ Please..”

“Please?”

“Please be gentle with me.”

Please, please be gentle?! You, you, Saito looked like an air-less goldfish with his mouth opening and closing.

[[Image:ZnT08-055.jpg|thumb]]

The next offensive completely ripped his command center open.

“Ki, Ki..”

“Ki?"

“How to kiss, teach me”

What is she talking about? Saito was completely unable to understand.

But, it was really cute.

Because she always is expressionless, such attack surprised Saito. Yet it wasn’t unpleasant surprise. It was a so-called pleasant surprise. The surprise, joy, and the excitement somehow almost made Saito feint. No, it wasn’t ‘somehow’.

On a closer look, Tabitha had a beautiful snow-white skin. Her blue eyes were like sapphires. Those blue lakes, still young, were very charming and made Saito’s heart throb. Like Louise she had those noble, elegant features... Though he did not notice before because thought her to be too young, she was definitely beautiful…

What a heck I am thinking about - she’s still a child, he thought shaking his head.

“F-foolishness, your father will be angry on me if he would catch me kissing you!

Not flinching, Tabitha pushed her lips out.

“Onii-chan…”

Foul play! On a wind dragon, writhing in big conflict Saito heard roaring from behind. When he turned around, he saw Zero Fighter flying.

“Wha-!”

Within the cockpit he could see Louise’s and Siesta’s faces.

“How can you control it!” He yelled.

“I learned it from the grandfather!” Siesta shouted.

He wondered how he could hear her voice through loudly roaring engine, and soon, undoubtedly, he heard Louise’s angry voice.

“Now you are going even after a child who is smaller than me! You love anyone - big or small! Either way will do! Saittei!”

Don! Don! DoDo! Zero Fighters wings trembled.

How can they shoot twenty-millimeter cannonballs though they are supposed to be out of ammo?

He though, when a jar of wine flew at him.

“Have a drink!” came Siesta’s drunken voice.

She is drunk while piloting the airplane, Saito was terrified.

“No, better control the plane.”

He muttered, before getting hit by a jar. It hurts!

Saito shouted impatiently.

“Tabitha, avoid! Speed the wind dragon up to run away from the zero fighter!”.

“Tabitha? I am Kirche, Darling.”

Somehow Tabitha turned into Kirche. Moreover, only a few seashells were covering her most important body parts.

“Quickly get away from me! We will get killed! Flying too fast!

“It can’t fly”

“Isn’t it a wind dragon?!”

“Nope, my salamander, Flame-chan.”

Unnoticed by Saito, it was indeed Kirche’s salamander Flame.

“Whaat?!!”

Salamander went down like a rock. Saito tried to grab Derflinger. Using my Gandalfr's power I’ll jump onto the zero fighter and save myself! he thought…

“Awa! Why doenst my bode feel lighter!”

Looking at the left hand he saw runes disappear.

“Wa! Uwa! Waah!”

He steadily approached the ground.

“Falling! Falling! N? What’s this?!”

He saw something.

Light.

“…it shines. Gold?”

On the moment of the crash, dazzled Saito, was wrapped up by the golden light.

<center>* * *</center>

“Falling!”

Screamed Saito and woke up.

He was breathing heavily for a while, before muttering to himself.

“Dream…”

Fuzzy-headed, he reviewed the clattery drama.

He was chased by Siesta and Louise, and by was urged by Henrietta, Jessica, dogs and Tabitha – what an absurd hubbub and mess.

If it’s not a dream then why Louise and Siesta wore school uniforms from Saito’s Japan or Tabitha were dressed up as stewardess. But why would I be having such dream…

“Such strong desire, I…” he writhed in embarrassment for a moment. He grew worried – what if anyone saw him now? He looked around in fear.

“Uh.”

Indeed, there was an audience.

In front of Saito’s eyes there were faces of children watching him.

There were various faces - big and small, boys and girls. Golden hair, red hair…brunette, there were various hair colors too. Some were hesitant, embarrassed, relieved or worried watching Saito’s suspicious behavior. Though children clothes were a little dirty, their eyes sparkled.

Single boy with blond hair, leaned towards Saito and quietly looked into his face.

“Well… did you just saw me now?” Saito asked, for some reason boy jumped back in fear.

“Weird person! Suspicious person!” he ran away shouting.

“H-hey…misunderstanding, misunderstanding!”

“Freak! A type of person one should not get closer!”

Other joined in.

“Wa-wait a minute! I am not a strange person!”

However, Saito’s words of the excuse didn't reach them, all children flung out of a room in a lightening speed.

“Whawhat… they. A while ago I was having this embarrassing dream… Anyway, where am I?”

Saito looked around the room where he was in.

It was a cozy room. One window at one side of the bed, there was a door at the other side. A small round table was placed in center of the room, two wooden chairs near it.

Though a bed that Saito slept in was coarse it was clean. White sheets and soft blanket pulled over.

“Must be some kind of inn… But, why I am here…I mean. I was heavily injured…”

Saito in a hurry looked down at his body. The body was all covered with bandages. At that time, in a fierce battle, he was definitely driven to the point of death.

So.

I… let Louise and other leave and went against 70,000 alone. He shuddered remembering the fierce battle.

After he clashed with 70,000 army, following Derflinger’s advice he aimed at the commanders.

He attacked a fair amount of mages, but due to spell hits he started loosing his consciousness. Becoming staggering, he saw a general surrounded by mages and knights, and leaped at him.

After that he doesn’t have memories…

“…Anyway, seems like I survived.”

Feeling relieved, Saito whispered in a discouraged voice.

At the same time with a relief various doubts crept in.

Spell arrows and fireballs hit him, or was it, but there were no deep wounds. Then an explosion hit at close range, and he remembered his left-hand becoming like a charcoal. It wasn‘t nothing. He felt blood running out in streams from his body. There was a gaping wound in his belly. His bones were broken like sticks and his inner organs torn. In other words he was close to death.

Yet, when you look at my body now…

The vicious burns on his left arm disappeared, the pink skin could be seen through the crevices between bandages. The body wounds did not hurt for the time being as well.

Saito looked doubtful.

What on earth happened with my body?

“Well, it’s a wizard world after all, so some miracles do happen…” showing his inborn optimism, Saito said to himself.

For now, the only thing known was that he ‘survived’, and other things did not matter all that much. Once feeling relieved he was reminded of other things.

That’s right, there are more important concerns than my body.

My clash with army of 70,000….

Were enemy forces confused enough?

Did it won time for allies to withdraw?

Did Louise and everyone else escaped safely?

“Uuuh…what’s true? Now I’ll worry. Aaah, I’ll ask Derf.”

Saito looked around, searching for Derflinger.

However, the wise sword was nowhere to be found in the room. I’ll look for him, I cannot learn anything this way, Saito thought and tried to stand up…

“Auch!”

A frog like voice leaked from his throat.

The acute cramping pain pierced through his sides, feet, arms, ankles and neck. The pain covered the whole body and did not stop made Saito’s see black and white. Though the life was saved, but he still might be badly injured.

That fierce battle that felt like a dream since he woke up, now was rapidly gaining real outlines, Saito shook. Saito started to tremble. Even though he tried to suppress it, it didn’t stop.

One wrong step and he would have been dead, he definitely escaped death by a thin line.

Until the trembling settles, he decided to lie back in bed.

“But…I may be still asleep.”

He needed to confirm it.

I want to know precisely how I was brought back to life.

Therefore, he tried to get up many times.

Tch! Autch! He shouted, whenever he tried to stand up he was instantly taken over by pain….

“You should not move.”

From the door where children ran to… a smooth smell flowed and a coolly sweet voice sounded.

Ah, when he turned towards open door, he saw a girl, with fair, river-like flowing hair, standing.

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